In a showcase on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a neon pink suit donned by the pop star. The concert in front of 100,024 attendees was considered a success.
You might not like Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music in history. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, admitting that some songs are belting while others are awful.
The point being is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to produce literature or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on conditions.
The elements, the session, the ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the playing surface.
If the format is art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the players craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport broken apart and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
This is not a justification of the surface which produced a triumph and the another short match of the series.
Having 10mm of grass on the pitch, causing numerous dismissals falling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
The format is a diverse canvas, a long history and ongoing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the ball does all sorts for the fast men. Other times, it turns square on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are particularly captivating because of the investment devoted elsewhere.
Adaptation: The True Test
Specific conditions are accepted more easily than others.
The contention in during the match was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were unable from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the wicket and adjusting accordingly. The two highest individual scores were made by acknowledged stars. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the supporters who have suffered years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the ground, thousands waved their flags and created an atmosphere, producing a party atmosphere in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the fielding side excelled, impetus when the top order responded, and unconditional love when the win was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has form with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a match there featured a wicket with all the life of a a non-event.
That match was a grind, with minimal action and endless boredom. This recent match and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the range – both are not perfect, yet significance can be ascribed to both.
At this stage into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the memory.
"Far from being the demise of the long game at all," commented a former player. "The people who have been fortunate to see these short time have been experienced some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this match, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The squad delivered for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his face.
Emerging talents performed with vital performances. These are small positives, hardly enough to ensure long-term futures, but a starting point to develop from.
At the very least, this triumph is added to other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans slipped away into a beautiful night, the team gathered on the turf to commence their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, boys. It's well deserved.
