Within a showcase on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a electric pink ensemble worn 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. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music in history. You might take a balanced view, conceding that some tracks are excellent while others are terrible.
The central idea is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to produce art or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by external factors.
The elements, the time of day, the ball – the list is endless. Most important is the wicket.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the canvas on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the great game broken apart and reassembled in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the surface which resulted in a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Having 10mm of grass on the wicket, resulting in numerous dismissals tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
The format is a diverse canvas, a long history and counting. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball moves excessively for the fast men. Other times, it spins sharply on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are even more exciting due to the time made during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are embraced more easily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the top batters were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the situation and adjusting accordingly. The two highest individual scores were made by recognized players. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the devotees who have suffered a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the MCG, thousands waved their flags and chanted, fostering a party atmosphere in a bastion of sport.
There was hope as the bowlers excelled, momentum when batters responded, and rapturous celebration when the victory was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with pitch problems. Previously, a Test there featured a pitch with all the life of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a slog, with few wickets and slow play. The latest encounter and that previous match are extreme ends of the spectrum – one is not more perfect, yet value can be found in both.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the memory.
"This isn't the demise of the format at all," observed a past champion. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been given some genuine drama. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this match, the skipper talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The players responded for him, restoring the joy to his face.
Emerging talents stepped up with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but something to build on.
In the end, this triumph is added to other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad gathered on the field to commence their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, men. You've earned this one.
