Displayed inside a showcase on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a neon pink outfit performed in by the entertainer. The show in front of 100,024 fans was considered a success.
Perhaps you don't like Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, conceding that some tracks are excellent while others are terrible.
The central idea is that enjoyment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to craft art or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon external factors.
The climate, the time of day, the ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the wicket.
If the format is a form of art, the pitch is the foundation on which the players create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the established format taken to pieces and stuck back together in abstract form.
This is not a justification of the wicket which resulted in a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Having 10mm of grass on the pitch, causing numerous dismissals being taken in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is incorrect.
The format is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and counting. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Other times, it spins sharply on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are even more exciting owing to the investment committed elsewhere.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are tolerated more freely than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the balance was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the best players were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the wicket and adapting appropriately. The top two individual innings were made by recognized players. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the supporters who have experienced a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the MCG, a sea of people made noise and chanted, producing a party atmosphere in a heartland of national pride.
There was optimism as the bowlers dominated, impetus when the top order responded, and unconditional love when the result was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has form with pitch problems. In the past, a Test there featured a strip with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That match was a slog, with few wickets and slow play. The latest encounter and that previous match are polar opposites of the range – both are not ideal, yet value can be found in both.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the demise of the format at all," observed a veteran. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been experienced some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this match, the leader talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The team protected him, restoring the smile to his face.
Different players stepped up with crucial roles. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to ensure long-term success, but a foundation to use as a platform.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory is added to other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd departed into a beautiful night, the squad gathered on the outfield to start their own festivities.
Celebrate the win, boys. It's well deserved.
