In a glass case on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a vibrant pink ensemble worn by the pop star. His concert in front of a massive crowd of fans was seen as a triumph.
Perhaps you don't enjoy Robbie Williams. You might think he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, acknowledging that some songs are excellent while others are awful.
The central idea is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no one way to produce art or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by external factors.
The elements, the session, the red ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the pitch.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport dismantled and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
This is not a endorsement of the pitch which produced a triumph and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the wicket, leading to 36 wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
The format is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and ongoing. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. In contrast, it turns square on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating owing to the time made in other matches.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are tolerated more readily than others.
The argument in during the match was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were hindered from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the conditions and adapting effectively. The top two individual innings were made by recognized players. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the fans who have suffered 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the MCG, thousands made noise and chanted, generating a party atmosphere in a heartland of sport.
There was hope as the fielding side dominated, momentum when batters scored quickly, and unconditional love when the win was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with difficult wickets. In the past, a game there featured a pitch with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a grind, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the range – both are not ideal, yet historical weight can be attached to each.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the death of the format at all," observed a past champion. "The people who have been privileged to see these two days have been treated to some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this match, the leader talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The squad protected him, reinstating the joy to his countenance.
Emerging talents stepped up with key contributions. These are small positives, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a starting point to develop from.
In the end, this triumph takes its place among other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans left into a stunning sunset, the team assembled on the field to commence their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, men. It's well deserved.
