Displayed inside a glass case on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a vibrant pink ensemble worn by the entertainer. His performance in front of a massive crowd of spectators was considered a success.
Perhaps you don't like Robbie Williams. You might think he is the ultimate present to music known to man. You might take a balanced view, admitting that some hits are fantastic while others are poor.
The key argument is that amusement can take many forms. You like what you like. There is not a single method to produce literature or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by conditions.
The weather, the session, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the pitch.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the wicket is the foundation on which the cricketers create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the established format dismantled and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
This is not a justification of the wicket which resulted in a win and the another short match of the series.
Leaving excessive grass on the pitch, causing a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and ongoing. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Other times, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are particularly captivating owing to the time committed during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The True Test
Some factors are tolerated more easily than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were hindered from playing their natural game.
Test cricket is about problem solving – reading the wicket and adjusting effectively. The two highest individual scores were made by acknowledged batters. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the fans who have endured 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the stadium, a sea of people waved their flags and created an atmosphere, generating a festive mood in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the fielding side dominated, advantage when batters fought back, and unconditional love when the victory was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with difficult wickets. In the past, a Test there featured a pitch with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a slog, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that previous match are extreme ends of the range – one is not more the standard, yet historical weight can be attached to them.
Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the history books.
"It's not the death of the format at all," observed a veteran. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been treated to some genuine drama. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this match, the skipper talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The squad protected him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his face.
New faces stepped up with key contributions. These are baby steps, hardly enough to secure long-term stability, but a starting point to build on.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory joins other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd departed into a beautiful night, the team assembled on the outfield to begin their own festivities.
Celebrate the win, men. It's well deserved.
