Within a display cabinet on the third floor of the MCG rests a neon pink ensemble donned by the pop star. The performance in front of a massive crowd of spectators was considered a success.
You might not appreciate Robbie Williams. You might think he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, admitting that some tracks are excellent while others are awful.
The central idea is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is not a single method to create music or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by conditions.
The climate, the time of day, the red ball – the list is endless. Above all is the wicket.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the canvas on which the athletes create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reassembled in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the wicket which yielded a victory and the another short match of the contest.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the wicket, leading to numerous dismissals being taken in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
The format is a diverse canvas, a long history and ongoing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the fast men. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are all the more thrilling due to the time committed during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Certain variables are tolerated more readily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the top batters were prevented from playing their natural game.
The format is about problem solving – reading the situation and adjusting effectively. The two highest individual scores were made by acknowledged stars. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the fans who have experienced 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the ground, countless fans waved their flags and sang their songs, generating a festive mood in a stronghold of sport.
There was hope as the fielding side surged, momentum when the top order fought back, and unconditional love when the win was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has form with pitch problems. In the past, a game there featured a wicket with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a slog, with minimal action and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that previous match are polar opposites of the scale – both are not ideal, yet significance can be found in each.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the memory.
"This isn't the demise of the long game at all," observed a veteran. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these short time have been experienced some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this Test, the leader talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The squad responded for him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his persona.
Emerging talents stepped up with crucial roles. These are small positives, certainly not enough to ensure long-term stability, but a foundation to use as a platform.
In the end, this triumph is added to other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters slipped away into a stunning sunset, the team congregated on the field to begin their own festivities.
Savour the moment, lads. It's well deserved.
