In a glass case on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a neon pink suit worn by the pop star. The performance in front of a hundred thousand spectators was considered a success.
It's possible you like Robbie Williams. You might think he is the greatest gift to music in history. You might take a middle ground, admitting that some songs are belting while others are terrible.
The point being is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to create literature or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on external factors.
The elements, the time of day, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Above all is the pitch.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the canvas on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reconstructed in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the surface which yielded a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Leaving excessive grass on the wicket, resulting in 36 wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, a long history and ongoing. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are all the more thrilling due to the investment made elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are accepted more readily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were hindered from showcasing their talents.
The format is about finding solutions – reading the situation and responding appropriately. The two highest individual scores were made by world-class batters. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the supporters who have suffered 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the stadium, thousands made noise and chanted, producing a party atmosphere in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the bowlers surged, momentum when the top order fought back, and unconditional love when the victory was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with pitch problems. In the past, a match there featured a pitch with all the life of a a damp squib.
That match was a slog, with minimal action and interminable tedium. This recent match and that previous match are polar opposites of the scale – one is not more the standard, yet value can be attached to each.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the memory.
"Far from being the death of Test cricket at all," said a former player. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these two days have been given some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this match, the captain talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The squad responded for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his persona.
Different players performed with key contributions. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a foundation to develop from.
In the end, this MCG win is added to other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd slipped away into a stunning sunset, the squad congregated on the field to start their own festivities.
Savour the moment, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
