Displayed inside a showcase on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a neon pink outfit donned by the pop star. The performance in front of a hundred thousand fans was seen as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't appreciate Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, admitting that some tracks are excellent while others are awful.
The key argument is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to craft literature or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by the environment.
The elements, the time of day, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the pitch.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the wicket is the canvas on which the athletes create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport taken to pieces and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the wicket which yielded a win and the second two-day Test of the series.
Leaving a thick layer on the wicket, leading to numerous dismissals falling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The format is a varied portfolio, a long history and counting. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Other times, it spins sharply on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The close matches are all the more thrilling due to the time made elsewhere.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Some factors are tolerated more easily than others.
The contention in during the match was that the contest was tipped too far towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were unable from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about problem solving – reading the situation and adapting appropriately. The best individual scores were made by recognized batters. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the supporters who have experienced a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the MCG, thousands waved their flags and chanted, generating a party atmosphere in a heartland of sport.
There was hope as the bowlers surged, impetus when batters fought back, and pure joy when the win was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a game there featured a pitch with the character of a a non-event.
That fixture was a grind, with limited drama and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the range – one is not more the standard, yet value can be found in them.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the history books.
"Far from being the death of the long game at all," commented a past champion. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been given some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this Test, the leader talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The players delivered for him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his persona.
Emerging talents stepped up with crucial roles. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to ensure long-term success, but something to use as a platform.
At the very least, this MCG win takes its place among other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters left into a beautiful night, the players assembled on the outfield to begin their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, lads. You've earned this one.
