Displayed inside a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a electric pink outfit performed in by the pop star. His show in front of a hundred thousand spectators was considered a success.
Perhaps you don't like Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some tracks are belting while others are poor.
The central idea is that amusement can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is no one way to create music or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on conditions.
The weather, the time of day, the ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the players craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the great game dismantled and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the pitch which produced a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the surface, leading to 36 wickets being taken in less than two days, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The format is a varied portfolio, a long history and counting. At times, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the fast men. Sometimes, it turns square on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are even more exciting due to the investment devoted in other matches.
Adaptation: The True Test
Certain variables are accepted more easily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were prevented from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – assessing the conditions and responding effectively. The top two individual scores were made by world-class batters. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the devotees who have experienced a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the MCG, countless fans made noise and created an atmosphere, producing a festive mood in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the fielding side dominated, advantage when players fought back, and pure joy when the win was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with pitch problems. Previously, a Test there featured a wicket with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a marathon, with minimal action and slow play. This recent match and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the spectrum – neither perfect, yet historical weight can be found in them.
At this stage into the current series, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the history books.
"Far from being the death of the long game at all," observed a past champion. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been treated to some real entertainment. A unique show."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The team responded for him, reinstating the joy to his persona.
Different players delivered with crucial roles. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to ensure long-term futures, but a starting point to develop from.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players gathered on the outfield to commence their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, lads. It's well deserved.
