In a showcase on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a neon pink suit performed in by the pop star. His show in front of a massive crowd of spectators was considered a major hit.
It's possible you appreciate Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music in history. Or you could adopt a balanced view, admitting that some songs are fantastic while others are terrible.
The key argument is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no one way to craft music or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by external factors.
The weather, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the playing surface.
If the format is art, the pitch is the foundation on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
This is not a defence of the surface which resulted in a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Having 10mm of grass on the pitch, causing 36 wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The format is a varied portfolio, a long history and ongoing. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. In contrast, it turns square on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are particularly captivating because of the patience committed during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Some factors are embraced more readily than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the contest was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were hindered from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – reading the situation and responding appropriately. The top two individual contributions were made by recognized players. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Go and inform the supporters who have endured a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the stadium, countless fans waved their flags and sang their songs, fostering a festive mood in a bastion of national pride.
There was hope as the bowlers dominated, advantage when batters scored quickly, and unconditional love when the win was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has form with pitch problems. Previously, a match there featured a wicket with the character of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a grind, with minimal action and endless boredom. This recent match and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the range – neither the standard, yet historical weight can be found in each.
At this stage into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the demise of the format at all," commented a veteran. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been given some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this Test, the captain spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The team protected him, restoring the positive demeanor to his persona.
Different players delivered with key contributions. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to ensure long-term success, but something to develop from.
In the end, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans departed into a stunning sunset, the team gathered on the field to start their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, boys. You've earned this one.
