In a glass case on the third floor of the MCG is housed a vibrant pink suit donned by the pop star. His concert in front of 100,024 attendees was considered a triumph.
Perhaps you don't enjoy Robbie Williams. You might think he is the ultimate present to music known to man. You might take a middle ground, admitting that some songs are fantastic while others are awful.
The point being is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to create literature or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by the environment.
The weather, the session, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Above all is the wicket.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the pitch is the foundation on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the surface which produced a win and the another short match of the series.
Allowing excessive grass on the wicket, causing a cascade of wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and ongoing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. In contrast, it turns square on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling due to the investment devoted in other matches.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are tolerated more freely than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the best players were hindered from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the conditions and adapting accordingly. The best individual scores were made by acknowledged batters. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the devotees who have experienced a long drought that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the MCG, thousands celebrated and chanted, fostering a festive mood in a stronghold of sport.
There was hope as the attack excelled, impetus when players scored quickly, and unconditional love when the win was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with pitch problems. Previously, a game there featured a wicket with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a grind, with limited drama and endless boredom. This recent match and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the range – both are not ideal, yet historical weight can be found in them.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the history books.
"Far from being the death of the format at all," said a veteran. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these short time have been experienced some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this Test, the skipper talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The squad responded for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his face.
New faces performed with vital performances. These are small positives, hardly enough to ensure long-term success, but a starting point to develop from.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory is added to other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters departed into a stunning sunset, the team gathered on the outfield to start their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, boys. You've earned this one.
