Within a display cabinet on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a neon pink outfit worn by the entertainer. His show in front of a hundred thousand spectators was hailed as a success.
It's possible you like Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, admitting that some tracks are excellent while others are awful.
The key argument is that entertainment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to create literature or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by the environment.
The weather, the time of day, the red ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the playing surface.
If the long game is a form of art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the cricketers create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the great game taken to pieces and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the pitch which produced a victory and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Having excessive grass on the surface, causing a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The format is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and ongoing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball moves excessively for the fast men. In contrast, it turns square on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling because of the investment made during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The True Test
Specific conditions are embraced more freely than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the top batters were unable from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the situation and adapting effectively. The two highest individual scores were made by acknowledged stars. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the fans who have experienced years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the MCG, countless fans celebrated and created an atmosphere, fostering a carnival vibe in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the attack surged, impetus when batters scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the victory was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has form with pitch problems. In the past, a Test there featured a wicket with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a slog, with limited drama and slow play. This recent match and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the scale – neither perfect, yet historical weight can be ascribed to them.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the memory.
"This isn't the demise of the long game at all," commented a past champion. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been given some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this match, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The players protected him, restoring the positive demeanor to his face.
Emerging talents performed with key contributions. These are small positives, certainly not enough to ensure long-term stability, but something to build on.
Ultimately, this triumph joins other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans left into a stunning sunset, the team congregated on the outfield to begin their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, boys. You've earned this one.
