In a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a neon pink suit donned by the entertainer. The show in front of a hundred thousand fans was seen as a triumph.
Perhaps you don't enjoy Robbie Williams. You might think he is the ultimate present to music known to man. You might take a middle ground, conceding that some tracks are belting while others are poor.
The central idea is that entertainment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to produce music or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by the environment.
The weather, the time of day, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the pitch.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the pitch is the canvas on which the cricketers create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the great game dismantled and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the surface which yielded a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Having a thick layer on the pitch, resulting in a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is mistaken.
The format is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and still growing. At times, as witnessed recently, the ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Other times, it grips and turns on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are even more exciting because of the patience committed in other matches.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are embraced more easily than others.
The argument in during the match was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the top batters were unable from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – assessing the situation and responding appropriately. The best individual contributions were made by acknowledged batters. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the fans who have suffered a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the stadium, a sea of people waved their flags and sang their songs, fostering a festive mood in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the fielding side surged, momentum when batters fought back, and unconditional love when the win was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with difficult wickets. In the past, a game there featured a pitch with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a slog, with few wickets and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that slow Test are polar opposites of the spectrum – neither ideal, yet historical weight can be attached to each.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the end of Test cricket at all," commented a former player. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been treated to some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The players delivered for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his persona.
New faces delivered with crucial roles. These are small positives, certainly not enough to ensure long-term success, but something to use as a platform.
At the very least, this triumph is added to other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd left into a beautiful night, the team gathered on the turf to begin their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, men. It's well deserved.
