In a showcase on the upper level of the MCG rests a electric pink outfit donned by the entertainer. His concert in front of a massive crowd of spectators was hailed as a major hit.
It's possible you appreciate Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Or you could adopt a balanced view, acknowledging that some songs are fantastic while others are terrible.
The central idea is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to produce music or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on the environment.
The elements, the hour of play, the ball – the list is endless. Above all is the wicket.
If Test cricket is art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the players craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the great game broken apart and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the wicket which resulted in a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the wicket, resulting in a cascade of wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is incorrect.
The long game is a varied portfolio, a long history and counting. At times, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Other times, it grips and turns on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are even more exciting because of the patience devoted elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Some factors are embraced more freely than others.
The contention in during the match was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the best players were hindered from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – reading the conditions and adapting appropriately. The best individual innings were made by world-class players. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the fans who have endured years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the stadium, countless fans waved their flags and sang their songs, generating a carnival vibe in a heartland of national pride.
There was optimism as the bowlers surged, momentum when players responded, and rapturous celebration when the result was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with pitch problems. Previously, a Test there featured a strip with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a grind, with limited drama and slow play. The latest encounter and that slow Test are extreme ends of the range – neither ideal, yet significance can be found in them.
At this stage into the current series, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the history books.
"It's not the death of the long game at all," said a past champion. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been treated to some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The squad protected him, restoring the smile to his face.
New faces delivered with key contributions. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to ensure long-term stability, but a starting point to use as a platform.
In the end, this triumph takes its place among other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd left into a stunning sunset, the team congregated on the turf to begin their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, men. You've earned this one.
