Displayed inside a display cabinet on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a neon pink outfit performed in by the pop star. His concert in front of a hundred thousand spectators was hailed as a triumph.
You might not enjoy Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music known to man. You might take a reasonable stance, admitting that some tracks are excellent while others are poor.
The central idea is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to produce art or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on conditions.
The elements, the session, the ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the wicket.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the foundation on which the players craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the established format broken apart and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the wicket which produced a triumph and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Having a thick layer on the wicket, resulting in numerous dismissals being taken in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a diverse canvas, a long history and counting. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Other times, it turns square on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are particularly captivating due to the time made during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are tolerated more readily than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the top batters were unable from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about finding solutions – interpreting the situation and adjusting appropriately. The two highest individual scores were made by acknowledged stars. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the fans who have suffered a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the MCG, thousands celebrated and chanted, producing a carnival vibe in a heartland of sport.
There was belief as the fielding side dominated, advantage when batters fought back, and rapturous celebration when the win was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a match there featured a strip with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That contest was a grind, with limited drama and endless boredom. This recent match and that slow Test are extreme ends of the spectrum – both are not the standard, yet historical weight can be attached to them.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the history books.
"Far from being the end of Test cricket at all," observed a veteran. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been treated to some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this Test, the captain spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The squad protected him, restoring the positive demeanor to his face.
Different players delivered with key contributions. These are small positives, not nearly enough to ensure long-term stability, but a starting point to develop from.
In the end, this MCG win is added to other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters departed into a stunning sunset, the team gathered on the outfield to start their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
