Displayed inside a glass case on the elevated floor of the MCG sits a vibrant pink suit donned by the pop star. His concert in front of a hundred thousand spectators was seen as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't like Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a balanced view, conceding that some songs are fantastic while others are awful.
The central idea is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no one way to produce music or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon conditions.
The elements, the session, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the pitch.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the blank slate on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport broken apart and reassembled in an unusual manner.
This is not a endorsement of the pitch which resulted in a win and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the wicket, causing 36 wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and ongoing. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling because of the patience made during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Certain variables are embraced more readily than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the best players were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the situation and adjusting accordingly. The two highest individual innings were made by world-class stars. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the devotees who have endured a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the stadium, a sea of people made noise and sang their songs, fostering a festive mood in a bastion of national pride.
There was hope as the bowlers excelled, advantage when batters responded, and unconditional love when the victory was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a game there featured a wicket with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a grind, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the scale – both are not ideal, yet historical weight can be found in each.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the death of Test cricket at all," said a veteran. "The people who have been privileged to see these two days have been given some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this match, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The players protected him, bringing back the smile to his persona.
Different players stepped up with key contributions. These are small positives, certainly not enough to secure long-term success, but a foundation to develop from.
In the end, this Melbourne victory joins other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans slipped away into a beautiful night, the squad congregated on the outfield to begin their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, men. It's well deserved.
