In a glass case on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a electric pink ensemble donned by the pop star. His performance in front of a massive crowd of spectators was hailed as a major hit.
It's possible you enjoy Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some songs are fantastic while others are terrible.
The key argument is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to produce art or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on conditions.
The climate, the time of day, the red ball – the list is endless. Above all is the playing surface.
If the format is a form of art, the wicket is the foundation on which the players paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the established format dismantled and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
This is not a defence of the pitch which resulted in a win and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Leaving a thick layer on the surface, resulting in 36 wickets falling in less than two days, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The format is a diverse canvas, a long history and ongoing. At times, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball does all sorts for the fast men. Other times, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are even more exciting owing to the time made in other matches.
Adaptation: The True Test
Certain variables are embraced more easily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the contest was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the top batters were prevented from showcasing their talents.
The format is about adapting to challenges – assessing the conditions and adapting accordingly. The top two individual scores were made by acknowledged batters. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Go and inform the supporters who have experienced years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the stadium, thousands celebrated and created an atmosphere, fostering a carnival vibe in a stronghold of sport.
There was belief as the fielding side excelled, momentum when batters responded, and pure joy when the result was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with pitch problems. Previously, a Test there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a non-event.
That fixture was a slog, with minimal action and endless boredom. This recent match and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the range – one is not more the standard, yet significance can be attached to them.
At this stage into the current series, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the death of Test cricket at all," commented a past champion. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been experienced some real entertainment. A unique show."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this match, the captain talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The squad protected him, restoring the smile to his face.
Emerging talents performed with key contributions. These are baby steps, hardly enough to ensure long-term success, but something to build on.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory is added to other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd left into a beautiful night, the team congregated on the turf to commence their own festivities.
Savour the moment, lads. You've earned this one.
