Within a glass case on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a vibrant pink outfit donned by the entertainer. His show in front of a hundred thousand spectators was seen as a triumph.
It's possible you appreciate Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some songs are excellent while others are poor.
The key argument is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to create art or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on the environment.
The weather, the hour of play, the ball – the list is endless. Above all is the wicket.
If the format is a form of art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the great game taken to pieces and reassembled in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the wicket which produced a win and the another short match of the contest.
Leaving excessive grass on the wicket, leading to 36 wickets falling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and ongoing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Other times, it turns square on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are even more exciting because of the time committed elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Some factors are accepted more easily than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the wicket and adjusting appropriately. The two highest individual scores were made by acknowledged players. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the devotees who have suffered a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the ground, thousands waved their flags and created an atmosphere, producing a carnival vibe in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the fielding side excelled, momentum when players fought back, and pure joy when the victory was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has form with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a match there featured a pitch with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a grind, with few wickets and slow play. The two-day game and that slow Test are polar opposites of the scale – neither perfect, yet historical weight can be found in both.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the memory.
"It's not the demise of the format at all," said a veteran. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these short time have been treated to some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.
The squad delivered for him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his face.
Emerging talents delivered with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to secure long-term stability, but something to develop from.
Ultimately, this triumph joins other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd departed into a beautiful night, the players gathered on the outfield to start their own festivities.
Savour the moment, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
