In a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the MCG sits a neon pink suit donned by the pop star. The concert in front of a massive crowd of fans was hailed as a major hit.
You might not like Robbie Williams. You might think he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, acknowledging that some songs are fantastic while others are awful.
The central idea is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is no one way to craft literature or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by conditions.
The elements, the hour of play, the ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the wicket.
If the format is art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the players craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the established format dismantled and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the surface which produced a triumph and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Allowing excessive grass on the wicket, resulting in a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
The long game is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and ongoing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Other times, it grips and turns on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are particularly captivating due to the investment committed in other matches.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Some factors are embraced more freely than others.
The contention in during the match was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the top batters were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about problem solving – assessing the situation and responding accordingly. The top two individual scores were made by acknowledged batters. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Try telling the devotees who have experienced 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the ground, a sea of people made noise and created an atmosphere, producing a carnival vibe in a stronghold of national pride.
There was optimism as the bowlers surged, impetus when the top order scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the victory was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with controversial surfaces. In the past, a game there featured a strip with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a grind, with minimal action and endless boredom. The two-day game and that previous match are extreme ends of the spectrum – both are not the standard, yet historical weight can be ascribed to each.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the death of the long game at all," said a past champion. "The people who have been fortunate to see these two days have been treated to some genuine drama. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this match, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.
The players delivered for him, restoring the joy to his face.
Different players performed with vital performances. These are small positives, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a starting point to develop from.
Ultimately, this triumph joins other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans left into a beautiful night, the team assembled on the turf to commence their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, boys. It's well deserved.
