Within a display cabinet on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a electric pink suit worn by the pop star. His concert in front of a massive crowd of spectators was seen as a triumph.
You might not appreciate Robbie Williams. You might think he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, conceding that some songs are excellent while others are awful.
The key argument is that enjoyment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no one way to create music or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on external factors.
The elements, the session, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the playing surface.
If the format is a form of art, the pitch is the foundation on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the surface which produced a victory and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Allowing a thick layer on the wicket, causing numerous dismissals tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The long game is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and still growing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Sometimes, it turns square on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are particularly captivating because of the investment made elsewhere.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are accepted more freely than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were prevented from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the conditions and adjusting accordingly. The two highest individual contributions were made by acknowledged stars. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Go and inform the fans who have suffered years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the stadium, countless fans celebrated and sang their songs, producing a carnival vibe in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the attack excelled, impetus when the top order scored quickly, and unconditional love when the victory was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a match there featured a pitch with the character of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a marathon, with few wickets and interminable tedium. This recent match and that slow Test are extreme ends of the spectrum – neither ideal, yet value can be ascribed to them.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the end of Test cricket at all," observed a past champion. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these short time have been experienced some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this match, the captain talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The players protected him, restoring the smile to his persona.
Emerging talents delivered with crucial roles. These are small positives, not nearly enough to ensure long-term success, but a starting point to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this triumph takes its place among other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters slipped away into a beautiful night, the players gathered on the turf to begin their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
