Displayed inside a glass case on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a vibrant pink outfit worn by the entertainer. His concert in front of 100,024 fans was hailed as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't like Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the finest offering to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, conceding that some tracks are excellent while others are terrible.
The central idea is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to create art or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon the environment.
The climate, the time of day, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the wicket.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the canvas on which the athletes craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the wicket which resulted in a victory and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the wicket, resulting in a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The format is a rich tapestry, a long history and ongoing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the ball does all sorts for the seamers. In contrast, it turns square on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling owing to the investment made during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are accepted more easily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the contest was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the conditions and responding accordingly. The two highest individual scores were made by recognized batters. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the supporters who have experienced a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the MCG, thousands waved their flags and chanted, fostering a carnival vibe in a heartland of sport.
There was hope as the attack surged, impetus when players scored quickly, and unconditional love when the victory was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with controversial surfaces. Previously, a Test there featured a wicket with the character of a a non-event.
That contest was a slog, with few wickets and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the range – both are not perfect, yet historical weight can be found in them.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the death of the format at all," commented a former player. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been given some genuine drama. A unique show."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this Test, the captain talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The players protected him, restoring the smile to his countenance.
New faces delivered with vital performances. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to secure long-term stability, but a starting point to develop from.
In the end, this triumph joins other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd left into a stunning sunset, the players assembled on the turf to begin their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, lads. It's well deserved.
