Within a glass case on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a neon pink suit performed in by the pop star. The performance in front of a massive crowd of spectators was hailed as a triumph.
You might not appreciate Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, acknowledging that some tracks are fantastic while others are terrible.
The key argument is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to produce literature or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on the environment.
The climate, the session, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the playing surface.
If the long game is art, the strip is the canvas on which the players paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the great game broken apart and reassembled in abstract form.
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 Ashes battle.
Allowing a thick layer on the pitch, causing a cascade of wickets being taken in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is incorrect.
The format is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and still growing. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it turns square on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are even more exciting owing to the patience committed during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are accepted more freely than others.
The debate in during the match was that the contest was tipped too far towards the attack. That the top batters were unable from playing their natural game.
The format is about adapting to challenges – reading the wicket and adjusting appropriately. The best individual innings were made by world-class stars. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the devotees who have experienced 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the stadium, thousands celebrated and created an atmosphere, fostering a festive mood in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the fielding side surged, momentum when players fought back, and pure joy when the victory was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with controversial surfaces. Previously, a game there featured a pitch with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a slog, with few wickets and interminable tedium. This recent match and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the scale – neither perfect, yet value can be found in both.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the end of the long game at all," said a past champion. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these short time have been experienced some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The squad protected him, bringing back the smile to his face.
Emerging talents stepped up with crucial roles. These are small positives, certainly not enough to secure long-term futures, but a foundation to develop from.
Ultimately, this triumph is added to other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad gathered on the field to begin their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
