In a glass case on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a vibrant pink suit donned by the pop star. The show in front of 100,024 spectators was hailed as a triumph.
It's possible you appreciate Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music in history. Or you could adopt a balanced view, acknowledging that some songs are excellent while others are poor.
The key argument is that amusement can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is not a single method to create art or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on external factors.
The weather, the session, the ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the pitch.
If Test cricket is art, the strip is the blank slate on which the cricketers create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport dismantled and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the pitch which resulted in a triumph and the another short match of the series.
Having 10mm of grass on the surface, leading to numerous dismissals falling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and ongoing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling because of the time committed during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Some factors are accepted more easily than others.
The debate in during the match was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the best players were unable from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the situation and adapting appropriately. The top two individual contributions were made by acknowledged stars. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the fans who have endured 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the ground, countless fans waved their flags and created an atmosphere, fostering a carnival vibe in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the bowlers dominated, advantage when batters fought back, and unconditional love when the victory was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with pitch problems. In the past, a match there featured a pitch with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a marathon, with few wickets and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that slow Test are polar opposites of the scale – both are not ideal, yet significance can be ascribed to both.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the memory.
"This isn't the death of the format at all," observed a veteran. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been treated to some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this match, the skipper talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The team delivered for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his persona.
Different players delivered with key contributions. These are baby steps, hardly enough to ensure long-term futures, but a starting point to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the fans departed into a beautiful night, the squad gathered on the turf to commence their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, lads. It's well deserved.
