In a showcase on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a neon pink ensemble donned by the entertainer. The concert in front of a hundred thousand fans was seen as a success.
You might not like Robbie Williams. You might think he is the ultimate present to music known to man. You might take a reasonable stance, admitting that some hits are fantastic while others are poor.
The central idea is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to craft literature or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by conditions.
The elements, the hour of play, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the pitch.
If the long game is art, the wicket is the canvas on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the great game broken apart and reassembled in an unusual manner.
This is not a defence of the wicket which yielded a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the pitch, resulting in 36 wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and still growing. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The close matches are particularly captivating because of the patience devoted during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Some factors are accepted more readily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the attack. That the best players were prevented from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – reading the situation and adapting accordingly. The two highest individual scores were made by world-class stars. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the devotees who have experienced a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the MCG, a sea of people waved their flags and chanted, fostering a festive mood in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the fielding side excelled, momentum when the top order fought back, and unconditional love when the win was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a strip with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a slog, with limited drama and endless boredom. The two-day game and that slow Test are extreme ends of the range – neither perfect, yet value can be ascribed to both.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the memory.
"Far from being the death of the format at all," observed a veteran. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been experienced some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this match, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The team delivered for him, restoring the joy to his persona.
New faces delivered with key contributions. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to secure long-term futures, but a foundation to build on.
Ultimately, this MCG win joins other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd departed into a beautiful night, the players gathered on the turf to start their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, men. This victory was hard-fought.
