Within a glass case on the upper level of the MCG is housed a vibrant pink outfit donned by the pop star. The performance in front of 100,024 spectators was considered a triumph.
You might not like Robbie Williams. You might think he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a balanced view, conceding that some tracks are excellent while others are terrible.
The point being is that amusement can take many forms. You like what you like. There is no one way to craft literature or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on the environment.
The climate, the hour of play, the ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the wicket.
If Test cricket is art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport taken to pieces and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the wicket which resulted in a triumph and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Leaving excessive grass on the surface, leading to a cascade of wickets being taken in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, a long history and ongoing. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Other times, it grips and turns on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating due to the time made during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Some factors are tolerated more freely than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the conditions and responding effectively. The two highest individual scores were made by world-class batters. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the devotees who have experienced a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the stadium, countless fans celebrated and sang their songs, fostering a party atmosphere in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the bowlers excelled, momentum when the top order fought back, and pure joy when the win was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with pitch problems. Previously, a game there featured a pitch with the character of a a damp squib.
That contest was a grind, with few wickets and endless boredom. This recent match and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the scale – both are not perfect, yet historical weight can be found in each.
At this stage into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the history books.
"It's not the end of Test cricket at all," commented a past champion. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been experienced some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The team delivered for him, reinstating the smile to his persona.
Emerging talents performed with key contributions. These are small positives, hardly enough to ensure long-term stability, but a foundation to develop from.
At the very least, this triumph is added to other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad assembled on the turf to commence their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, lads. It's well deserved.
