Within a showcase on the upper level of the MCG is housed a electric pink ensemble donned by Robbie Williams. His performance in front of a hundred thousand spectators was considered a triumph.
It's possible you enjoy the performer. You might think he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, conceding that some hits are fantastic while others are poor.
The central idea is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to create literature or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on the environment.
The climate, the session, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Above all is the pitch.
If the long game is a form of art, the strip is the blank slate on which the players craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the established format taken to pieces and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the wicket which resulted in a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the wicket, leading to numerous dismissals being taken in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
The format is a varied portfolio, a long history and still growing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the fast men. Other times, it grips and turns on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are particularly captivating owing to the time devoted in other matches.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are embraced more freely than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the balance was tipped too far towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were prevented from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – assessing the situation and adapting effectively. The top two individual innings were made by world-class stars. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Go and inform the fans who have endured 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the stadium, thousands waved their flags and sang their songs, generating a party atmosphere in a stronghold of sport.
There was hope as the bowlers dominated, impetus when players scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the victory was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has a history with difficult wickets. In the past, a match there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That contest was a grind, with minimal action and endless boredom. The two-day game and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the scale – both are not ideal, yet value can be ascribed to both.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the history books.
"Far from being the end of the long game at all," said a past champion. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these short time have been given some real entertainment. A unique show."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The players delivered for him, bringing back the joy to his face.
New faces delivered with crucial roles. These are small positives, not nearly enough to ensure long-term success, but a foundation to build on.
In the end, this MCG win joins other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters slipped away into a beautiful night, the players congregated on the field to begin their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, men. It's well deserved.
