Displayed inside a display cabinet on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a neon pink ensemble worn by the entertainer. The show in front of a massive crowd of spectators was considered a major hit.
Perhaps you don't enjoy Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, conceding that some tracks are excellent while others are terrible.
The key argument is that amusement can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to craft music or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon the environment.
The elements, the session, the ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the playing surface.
If the format is art, the strip is the blank slate on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport dismantled and stuck back together in abstract form.
This is not a defence of the wicket which produced a triumph and the second two-day Test of the series.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the pitch, resulting in 36 wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and counting. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball moves excessively for the fast men. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are even more exciting because of the time devoted during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are accepted more easily than others.
The argument in during the match was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the best players were hindered from playing their natural game.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the wicket and adapting accordingly. The top two individual contributions were made by recognized batters. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Try telling the devotees who have experienced years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the MCG, countless fans made noise and sang their songs, generating a carnival vibe in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the attack dominated, impetus when the top order responded, and unconditional love when the win was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with difficult wickets. Previously, a game there featured a wicket with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a slog, with limited drama and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that previous match are extreme ends of the range – neither ideal, yet significance can be ascribed to both.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the demise of the format at all," commented a former player. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these short time have been treated to some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The players protected him, reinstating the smile to his countenance.
New faces stepped up with key contributions. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to secure long-term success, but something to build on.
In the end, this MCG win joins other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters slipped away into a beautiful night, the players gathered on the turf to begin their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, men. You've earned this one.
