Displayed inside a showcase on the third floor of the MCG rests a electric pink ensemble worn by the entertainer. His performance in front of a hundred thousand attendees was considered a major hit.
It's possible you enjoy Robbie Williams. You might think he is the finest offering to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, conceding that some tracks are excellent while others are awful.
The key argument is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no one way to create literature or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon the environment.
The elements, the session, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the pitch.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the foundation on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the established format broken apart and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the pitch which resulted in a win and the second two-day Test of the series.
Having excessive grass on the pitch, leading to numerous dismissals tumbling in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and counting. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. In contrast, it turns square on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating owing to the investment committed elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Certain variables are accepted more easily than others.
The debate in during the match was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about finding solutions – reading the wicket and adapting effectively. The best individual contributions were made by acknowledged stars. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the devotees who have experienced 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the MCG, countless fans waved their flags and sang their songs, generating a party atmosphere in a bastion of national pride.
There was hope as the attack dominated, momentum when batters fought back, and unconditional love when the result was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has form with difficult wickets. Previously, a game there featured a strip with the character of a a damp squib.
That match was a marathon, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that previous match are extreme ends of the scale – neither the standard, yet historical weight can be ascribed to both.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the demise of Test cricket at all," commented a former player. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been experienced some genuine drama. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this match, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The team delivered for him, bringing back the smile to his face.
Emerging talents performed with vital performances. These are baby steps, hardly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a foundation to develop from.
At the very least, this triumph joins other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd left into a beautiful night, the team gathered on the outfield to begin their own festivities.
Savour the moment, men. You've earned this one.
