In a glass case on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a neon pink suit worn by the pop star. The show in front of a hundred thousand fans was seen as a success.
It's possible you like Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. You might take a balanced view, acknowledging that some songs are belting while others are awful.
The key argument is that amusement can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to craft literature or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on external factors.
The elements, the time of day, the ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the playing surface.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the canvas on which the athletes create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the established format taken to pieces and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
This is not a justification of the wicket which produced a win and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Having 10mm of grass on the pitch, causing a cascade of wickets being taken in less than two days, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a varied portfolio, a long history and counting. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are particularly captivating due to the patience devoted elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Certain variables are accepted more freely than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the balance was tipped too far towards the attack. That the top batters were hindered from playing their natural game.
The format is about adapting to challenges – reading the conditions and responding accordingly. The two highest individual innings were made by recognized players. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the fans who have suffered 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the stadium, thousands made noise and chanted, producing a party atmosphere in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the bowlers surged, advantage when players fought back, and rapturous celebration when the result was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with pitch problems. Previously, a Test there featured a pitch with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a slog, with limited drama and slow play. The latest encounter and that previous match are extreme ends of the spectrum – both are not the standard, yet value can be found in both.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the death of Test cricket at all," commented a former player. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been experienced some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this match, the skipper talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The squad responded for him, reinstating the smile to his face.
New faces stepped up with crucial roles. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to secure long-term stability, but a starting point to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this MCG win joins other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team gathered on the turf to start their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, lads. It's well deserved.
