Displayed inside a showcase on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a neon pink outfit worn by the pop star. His concert in front of 100,024 attendees was hailed as a success.
You might not like Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music known to man. You might take a balanced view, acknowledging that some hits are belting while others are poor.
The point being is that enjoyment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no one way to craft art or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by conditions.
The weather, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the pitch.
If the long game is art, the strip is the blank slate on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the established format taken to pieces and reassembled in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the wicket which yielded a triumph and the another short match of the contest.
Having 10mm of grass on the surface, causing a cascade of wickets falling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The long game is a diverse canvas, a long history and counting. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the fast men. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are even more exciting due to the time committed in other matches.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are accepted more freely than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the best players were unable from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – reading the conditions and adapting effectively. The two highest individual innings were made by acknowledged batters. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the devotees who have endured years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the ground, thousands celebrated and chanted, generating a carnival vibe in a bastion of national pride.
There was optimism as the attack surged, advantage when the top order fought back, and unconditional love when the victory was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a game there featured a strip with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a slog, with limited drama and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that previous match are extreme ends of the scale – one is not more the standard, yet value can be attached to them.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the death of the format at all," commented a past champion. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these short time have been given some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this Test, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The team protected him, restoring the smile to his persona.
Emerging talents delivered with vital performances. These are small positives, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a starting point to develop from.
Ultimately, this MCG win takes its place among other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters departed into a stunning sunset, the team gathered on the field to begin their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, lads. You've earned this one.
