In a showcase on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a vibrant pink ensemble performed in by the pop star. His show in front of 100,024 attendees was considered a success.
Perhaps you don't appreciate Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, conceding that some hits are excellent while others are poor.
The central idea is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is not a single method to produce literature or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by external factors.
The climate, the session, the red ball – the list is endless. Most important is the wicket.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the canvas on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport broken apart and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the surface which produced a win and the second two-day Test of the series.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the pitch, resulting in a cascade of wickets falling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The format is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and ongoing. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball does all sorts for the seamers. Other times, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The close matches are all the more thrilling due to the patience devoted elsewhere.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are embraced more easily than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were hindered from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the situation and adapting effectively. The best individual scores were made by world-class players. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the supporters who have endured a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the ground, a sea of people waved their flags and chanted, generating a party atmosphere in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the bowlers surged, momentum when players fought back, and pure joy when the result was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has form with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a strip with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a marathon, with few wickets and endless boredom. The two-day game and that slow Test are extreme ends of the range – one is not more ideal, yet value can be attached to each.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the history books.
"It's not the death of the long game at all," commented a veteran. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been treated to some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this match, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The team responded for him, reinstating the joy to his persona.
Emerging talents stepped up with vital performances. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term success, but something to develop from.
Ultimately, this MCG win joins other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans slipped away into a stunning sunset, the players congregated on the outfield to start their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
