Displayed inside a display cabinet on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a vibrant pink ensemble donned by the pop star. His concert in front of a hundred thousand fans was considered a triumph.
Perhaps you don't appreciate Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. You might take a balanced view, admitting that some tracks are excellent while others are poor.
The point being is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to produce art or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
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 variables are numerous. Above all is the wicket.
If the long game is a form of art, the pitch is the foundation on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the great game taken to pieces and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the surface which resulted in a triumph and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Leaving excessive grass on the wicket, resulting in numerous dismissals tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The format is a diverse canvas, a long history and ongoing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. In contrast, it turns square on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling because of the time devoted during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Certain variables are tolerated more easily than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the contest was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the best players were hindered from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – assessing the conditions and adjusting effectively. The top two individual contributions were made by world-class players. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Go and inform the devotees who have suffered years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the stadium, thousands made noise and chanted, fostering a party atmosphere in a stronghold of sport.
There was optimism as the bowlers dominated, advantage when batters fought back, and pure joy when the victory was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with controversial surfaces. In the past, a match there featured a pitch with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a grind, with few wickets and slow play. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – neither the standard, yet value can be ascribed to them.
Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the memory.
"This isn't the end of the format at all," observed a former player. "Fans who have been privileged to see these short time have been treated to some genuine drama. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this match, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The squad responded for him, bringing back the smile to his persona.
Different players performed with key contributions. These are small positives, hardly enough to secure long-term success, but a starting point to develop from.
Ultimately, this MCG win joins other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans departed into a stunning sunset, the players congregated on the outfield to commence their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
