Within a showcase on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a neon pink ensemble performed in by the entertainer. The show in front of 100,024 fans was considered a success.
Perhaps you don't like Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music in history. Or you could adopt a middle ground, acknowledging that some songs are belting while others are terrible.
The key argument is that entertainment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is not a single method to craft art or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by external factors.
The elements, the hour of play, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the wicket.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the foundation on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the great game broken apart and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the surface which yielded a triumph and the another short match of the series.
Having 10mm of grass on the pitch, resulting in 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 diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The long game is a rich tapestry, a long history and counting. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the ball moves excessively for the seamers. Other times, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating because of the time made during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Certain variables are embraced more freely than others.
The contention in during the match was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about problem solving – reading the situation and adjusting effectively. The best individual scores were made by acknowledged stars. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the fans who have experienced 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the ground, a sea of people waved their flags and sang their songs, producing a festive mood in a bastion of national pride.
There was hope as the fielding side excelled, advantage when the top order scored quickly, and pure joy when the victory was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has form with difficult wickets. In the past, a game there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a non-event.
That fixture was a slog, with minimal action and interminable tedium. This recent match and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the spectrum – both are not ideal, yet historical weight can be ascribed to each.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the history books.
"Far from being the end of the long game at all," observed a past champion. "Fans who have been privileged to see these short time have been treated to some genuine drama. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The players delivered for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his persona.
Different players delivered with key contributions. These are small positives, not nearly enough to secure long-term stability, but something to develop from.
Ultimately, this MCG win takes its place among other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd departed into a stunning sunset, the team gathered on the field to begin their own festivities.
Savour the moment, men. This victory was hard-fought.
