Displayed inside a glass case on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a vibrant pink outfit worn by the pop star. His concert in front of a massive crowd of attendees 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. You might take a middle ground, admitting that some tracks are belting while others are poor.
The key argument is that entertainment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is no one way to produce art or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon the environment.
The climate, the time of day, the red ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the pitch.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the pitch is the canvas on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the established format dismantled and reassembled in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the wicket which resulted in a triumph and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Leaving a thick layer on the wicket, leading to numerous dismissals tumbling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, a long history and counting. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Other times, it grips and turns on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The close matches are even more exciting because of the time committed during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Certain variables are tolerated more easily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the contest was tipped too far towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were prevented from playing their natural game.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the wicket and adapting appropriately. The best individual contributions were made by world-class batters. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the devotees who have suffered a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the stadium, thousands celebrated and created an atmosphere, producing a party atmosphere in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the attack dominated, advantage when players fought back, and pure joy when the result was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with pitch problems. Previously, a match there featured a strip with the excitement of a a non-event.
That match was a grind, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – both are not perfect, yet value can be ascribed to each.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the history books.
"This isn't the demise of the long game at all," commented a former player. "Fans who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been experienced some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The players responded for him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his persona.
New faces delivered with vital performances. These are small positives, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term success, but something to build on.
In the end, this triumph joins other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans slipped away into a stunning sunset, the players congregated on the turf to commence their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
