Displayed inside a glass case on the elevated floor of the MCG rests a vibrant pink outfit worn by the entertainer. The concert in front of a hundred thousand spectators was seen as a success.
You might not appreciate Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the finest offering to music known to man. Or you could adopt a balanced view, acknowledging that some hits are belting while others are poor.
The key argument is that enjoyment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no one way to create literature or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by the environment.
The weather, the hour of play, the red ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the pitch.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the foundation on which the players create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport broken apart and stuck back together in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the wicket which resulted in a win and the second two-day Test of the series.
Having 10mm of grass on the pitch, causing a cascade of wickets being taken in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is mistaken.
The long game is a rich tapestry, a long history and still growing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling because of the patience committed elsewhere.
Adjustment: The True Test
Specific conditions are embraced more readily than others.
The contention in during the match was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the best players were unable from playing their natural game.
The format is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the conditions and adapting effectively. The best individual contributions were made by acknowledged batters. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Try telling the supporters who have suffered a long drought that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the stadium, countless fans made noise and chanted, producing a carnival vibe in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the fielding side surged, impetus when batters scored quickly, and pure joy when the win was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has form with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a game there featured a pitch with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a slog, with minimal action and endless boredom. The two-day game and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – neither ideal, yet historical weight can be attached to each.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the memory.
"It's not the end of the format at all," observed a past champion. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these two days have been given some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this Test, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The team delivered for him, reinstating the smile to his countenance.
New faces delivered with vital performances. These are small positives, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a foundation to build on.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory joins other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd departed into a stunning sunset, the players assembled on the outfield to begin their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
