Displayed inside a showcase on the third floor of the MCG is housed a vibrant pink outfit donned by the pop star. His show in front of a massive crowd of spectators was seen as a success.
You might not appreciate Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music in history. Or you could adopt a balanced view, acknowledging that some songs are fantastic while others are poor.
The key argument is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to produce literature or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by conditions.
The weather, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the strip is the blank slate on which the players paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the great game dismantled and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
This is not a defence of the surface which produced a win and the second two-day Test of the series.
Having 10mm of grass on the wicket, leading to numerous dismissals tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a diverse canvas, a long history and ongoing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The close matches are all the more thrilling because of the time devoted in other matches.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are tolerated more readily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the contest was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the best players were unable from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the conditions and adapting appropriately. The two highest individual contributions were made by recognized batters. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the fans who have experienced years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the stadium, countless fans celebrated and created an atmosphere, fostering a party atmosphere in a bastion of sport.
There was optimism as the fielding side surged, momentum when the top order scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the result was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has a history with difficult wickets. Previously, a Test there featured a strip with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a slog, with few wickets and interminable tedium. This recent match and that previous match are polar opposites of the range – one is not more perfect, yet historical weight can be attached to both.
At this stage into the current series, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the death of Test cricket at all," commented a past champion. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these two days have been treated to some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this match, the leader spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The players protected him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his face.
New faces performed with crucial roles. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a foundation to build on.
At the very least, this triumph joins other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters slipped away into a beautiful night, the squad assembled on the turf to commence their own festivities.
Savour the moment, lads. You've earned this one.
