Displayed inside a display cabinet on the upper level of the MCG sits a neon pink suit donned by the pop star. The performance in front of a massive crowd of fans was hailed as a triumph.
It's possible you appreciate Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a middle ground, conceding that some songs are fantastic while others are poor.
The point being is that amusement can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no one way to create music or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on the environment.
The weather, the hour of play, the red ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the pitch.
If the format is a form of art, the wicket is the foundation on which the players craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the great game dismantled and reassembled in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the surface which resulted in a triumph and the another short match of the contest.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the wicket, causing numerous dismissals tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and ongoing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Other times, it turns square on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating owing to the time committed during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are embraced more readily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the contest was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the best players were hindered from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the conditions and responding accordingly. The two highest individual scores were made by world-class players. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the supporters who have endured a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the MCG, countless fans made noise and sang their songs, generating a festive mood in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the attack surged, advantage when the top order fought back, and rapturous celebration when the victory was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with difficult wickets. Previously, a Test there featured a strip with the character of a a damp squib.
That contest was a slog, with limited drama and slow play. The two-day game and that slow Test are polar opposites of the range – both are not perfect, yet significance can be ascribed to both.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the history books.
"Far from being the demise of Test cricket at all," observed a past champion. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been treated to some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this match, the leader spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The team delivered for him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his face.
New faces performed with key contributions. These are small positives, certainly not enough to ensure long-term stability, but a foundation to build on.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory joins other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd left into a stunning sunset, the team congregated on the outfield to begin their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, men. This victory was hard-fought.
