Within a glass case on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a neon pink suit donned by the pop star. His performance in front of 100,024 fans was hailed as a triumph.
You might not like Robbie Williams. You might think he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. You might take a reasonable stance, conceding that some songs are excellent while others are awful.
The key argument is that enjoyment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to produce art or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by conditions.
The elements, the session, the red ball – the list is endless. Above all is the pitch.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the established format broken apart and reconstructed in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the pitch which yielded a triumph and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the wicket, resulting in a cascade of wickets falling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
The format is a diverse canvas, a long history and counting. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball does all sorts for the fast men. In contrast, it turns square on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling owing to the patience committed in other matches.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Some factors are embraced 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 hindered from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about problem solving – assessing the conditions and adjusting appropriately. The two highest individual contributions were made by recognized batters. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Try telling the supporters who have suffered a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the ground, countless fans waved their flags and sang their songs, producing a party atmosphere in a stronghold of sport.
There was hope as the attack excelled, advantage when players responded, and rapturous celebration when the result was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a game there featured a wicket with the character of a a damp squib.
That match was a slog, with limited drama and interminable tedium. This recent match and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the scale – one is not more perfect, yet value can be found in each.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the history books.
"This isn't the end of Test cricket at all," observed a veteran. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been given some genuine drama. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The players responded for him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his persona.
Different players performed with key contributions. These are small positives, certainly not enough to secure long-term success, but a starting point to build on.
In the end, this MCG win takes its place among other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters slipped away into a stunning sunset, the squad congregated on the outfield to begin their own festivities.
Celebrate the win, men. You've earned this one.
