Within a glass case on the upper level of the MCG is housed a neon pink outfit performed in by the pop star. His performance in front of a massive crowd of fans was hailed as a success.
It's possible you enjoy Robbie Williams. You might think he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, conceding that some tracks are belting while others are awful.
The point being is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no one way to craft music or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon external factors.
The climate, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the canvas on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the great game broken apart and reconstructed in abstract form.
This is not a justification of the wicket which produced a victory and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the surface, resulting in numerous dismissals falling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and ongoing. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball moves excessively for the seamers. Other times, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are particularly captivating owing to the investment made in other matches.
Adaptation: The True Test
Certain variables are accepted more freely than others.
The debate in during the match was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the wicket and adjusting effectively. The best individual innings were made by acknowledged stars. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Try telling the supporters who have suffered 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the ground, countless fans waved their flags and chanted, producing a party atmosphere in a stronghold of sport.
There was belief as the fielding side excelled, advantage when the top order fought back, and rapturous celebration when the win was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a wicket with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a slog, with minimal action and interminable tedium. This recent match and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the range – one is not more the standard, yet significance can be found in them.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the memory.
"Far from being the end of the long game at all," observed a past champion. "The people who have been privileged to see these short time have been given some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this Test, the captain spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The team delivered for him, bringing back the smile to his countenance.
New faces stepped up with vital performances. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to secure long-term futures, but a starting point to build on.
In the end, this triumph joins other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans left into a beautiful night, the squad gathered on the turf to begin their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, men. You've earned this one.
