Displayed inside a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a neon pink ensemble worn by the entertainer. His concert in front of 100,024 fans was hailed as a major hit.
It's possible you like Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Or you could adopt a middle ground, conceding that some tracks are fantastic while others are terrible.
The point being is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to produce art or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by the environment.
The weather, the session, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the playing surface.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the foundation on which the athletes create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the pitch which produced a triumph and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the pitch, leading to a cascade of wickets falling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and ongoing. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it turns square on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are even more exciting owing to the investment made elsewhere.
Adaptation: The True Test
Certain variables are accepted more easily than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the balance was tipped too far towards the attack. That the top batters were prevented from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – assessing the conditions and responding appropriately. The top two individual innings were made by world-class batters. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the devotees who have suffered a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the stadium, thousands celebrated and chanted, generating a festive mood in a heartland of sport.
There was belief as the attack dominated, impetus when the top order scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the win was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with difficult wickets. In the past, a Test there featured a wicket with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a marathon, with few wickets and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – both are not ideal, yet historical weight can be found in each.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the history books.
"Far from being the death of the format at all," observed a former player. "Fans who have been privileged to see these short time have been treated to some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this match, the leader spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The squad delivered for him, reinstating the smile to his face.
Emerging talents delivered with key contributions. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to ensure long-term success, but a foundation to develop from.
Ultimately, this MCG win joins other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans departed into a beautiful night, the squad gathered on the outfield to commence their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
