In a display cabinet on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a vibrant pink outfit performed in by the pop star. His concert in front of a massive crowd of fans was seen as a triumph.
You might not appreciate Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, conceding that some songs are excellent while others are poor.
The key argument is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is no one way to produce music or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon conditions.
The elements, the time of day, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Above all is the pitch.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the strip is the blank slate on which the players paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the established format broken apart and stuck back together in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the wicket which produced a triumph and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Leaving a thick layer on the pitch, causing numerous dismissals falling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is incorrect.
The long game is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and ongoing. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Other times, it grips and turns on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting due to the time committed elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Certain variables are tolerated more easily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the contest was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the best players were hindered from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – reading the situation and adapting appropriately. The two highest individual scores were made by world-class batters. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the fans who have experienced a long drought that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the MCG, a sea of people waved their flags and created an atmosphere, fostering a festive mood in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the bowlers excelled, advantage when batters responded, and unconditional love when the victory was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That match was a slog, with few wickets and interminable tedium. This recent match and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the scale – both are not ideal, yet value can be attached to each.
At this stage into the current series, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the history books.
"Far from being the death of the format at all," said a former player. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been treated to some real entertainment. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this match, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The players delivered for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his face.
Emerging talents stepped up with key contributions. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to secure long-term stability, but a foundation to build on.
Ultimately, this MCG win is added to other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players congregated on the outfield to start their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, boys. You've earned this one.
