Within a glass case on the third floor of the MCG rests a neon pink suit worn by the pop star. His concert in front of a hundred thousand attendees was hailed as a major hit.
It's possible you enjoy Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, conceding that some tracks are excellent while others are poor.
The key argument is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to craft literature or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by conditions.
The weather, the hour of play, the red ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the pitch.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the foundation on which the athletes create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the established format taken to pieces and stuck back together in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the pitch which produced a triumph and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Having 10mm of grass on the wicket, resulting in a cascade of wickets falling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The format is a diverse canvas, a long history and still growing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling due to the patience devoted during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Certain variables are accepted more readily than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the top batters were unable from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the wicket and adapting appropriately. The two highest individual scores were made by acknowledged stars. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the devotees who have suffered years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the stadium, thousands celebrated and sang their songs, producing a party atmosphere in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the fielding side dominated, advantage when players responded, and rapturous celebration when the result was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with difficult wickets. Previously, a Test there featured a strip with the character of a a non-event.
That match was a grind, with few wickets and interminable tedium. This recent match and that slow Test are extreme ends of the range – one is not more ideal, yet value can be attached to each.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the memory.
"This isn't the demise of Test cricket at all," said a veteran. "The people who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been treated to some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this Test, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The team responded for him, restoring the smile to his persona.
New faces performed with vital performances. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to ensure long-term futures, but something to develop from.
Ultimately, this MCG win joins other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters departed into a stunning sunset, the squad congregated on the field to start their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, men. It's well deserved.
