Displayed inside a showcase on the elevated floor of the MCG is housed a neon pink ensemble performed in by the pop star. His concert in front of a massive crowd of fans was seen as a success.
You might not enjoy Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music known to man. You might take a middle ground, conceding that some tracks are fantastic while others are awful.
The point being is that entertainment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to craft literature or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon the environment.
The climate, the time of day, the red ball – the list is endless. Above all is the playing surface.
If the long game is art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the players paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the established format dismantled and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
This is not a endorsement of the wicket which yielded a triumph and the second two-day Test of the series.
Having a thick layer on the wicket, leading to a cascade of wickets falling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a diverse canvas, a long history and counting. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball does all sorts for the fast men. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are even more exciting because of the investment committed elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Certain variables are embraced more freely than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the balance was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the situation and adjusting effectively. The top two individual scores were made by acknowledged stars. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the fans who have endured 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the ground, countless fans celebrated and chanted, fostering a party atmosphere in a heartland of sport.
There was hope as the bowlers excelled, impetus when the top order scored quickly, and pure joy when the victory was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has form with controversial surfaces. Previously, a game there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a non-event.
That contest was a slog, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the range – both are not ideal, yet value can be found in both.
At this stage into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the memory.
"This isn't the death of the format at all," commented a veteran. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been treated to some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this match, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The players delivered for him, reinstating the joy to his countenance.
New faces stepped up with key contributions. These are small positives, hardly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a foundation to develop from.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory is added to other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team gathered on the turf to start their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, lads. It's well deserved.
