Displayed inside a showcase on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a electric pink suit donned by the pop star. The performance in front of a massive crowd of attendees was considered a major hit.
Perhaps you don't like Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, acknowledging that some hits are belting while others are awful.
The key argument is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is not a single method to create art or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by the environment.
The weather, the session, the ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the wicket.
If the long game is art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the players craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the established format taken to pieces and reconstructed in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the surface which produced a victory and the another short match of the contest.
Allowing a thick layer on the wicket, causing a cascade of wickets falling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and counting. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting because of the patience committed during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Specific conditions are accepted more easily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about problem solving – reading the situation and adjusting effectively. The two highest individual scores were made by acknowledged batters. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the supporters who have experienced 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the MCG, a sea of people made noise and sang their songs, fostering a carnival vibe in a heartland of national pride.
There was optimism as the attack excelled, advantage when players responded, and unconditional love when the win was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with pitch problems. In the past, a match there featured a wicket with all the life of a a non-event.
That match was a slog, with limited drama and endless boredom. The two-day game and that previous match are extreme ends of the scale – one is not more perfect, yet value can be found in them.
At this stage into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the demise of Test cricket at all," commented a past champion. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been experienced some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this match, the leader talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The squad responded for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his face.
Emerging talents delivered with vital performances. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to ensure long-term stability, but a foundation to develop from.
At the very least, this MCG win is added to other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans departed into a stunning sunset, the players congregated on the turf to begin their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, lads. It's well deserved.
