Displayed inside a display cabinet on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a vibrant pink suit donned by the pop star. The show in front of a hundred thousand fans was considered a major hit.
It's possible you enjoy Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, admitting that some hits are belting while others are terrible.
The central idea is that enjoyment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to create music or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by conditions.
The weather, the hour of play, the red ball – the list is endless. Above all is the pitch.
If Test cricket is art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the great game taken to pieces and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the surface which resulted in a win and the second two-day Test of the series.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the surface, leading to a cascade of wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, a long history and counting. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the ball does all sorts for the fast men. In contrast, it grips and turns on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling because of the investment made elsewhere.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are embraced more readily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the balance was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the top batters were unable from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – assessing the situation and adapting appropriately. The best individual contributions were made by world-class players. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the devotees who have suffered years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the stadium, countless fans made noise and sang their songs, fostering a party atmosphere in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the bowlers dominated, impetus when players fought back, and unconditional love when the win was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with difficult wickets. In the past, a game there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That match was a grind, with few wickets and endless boredom. This recent match and that previous match are extreme ends of the scale – one is not more the standard, yet historical weight can be ascribed to each.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the death of the format at all," observed a past champion. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been given some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this Test, the leader talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The squad responded for him, bringing back the joy to his face.
Emerging talents stepped up with key contributions. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to ensure long-term success, but something to use as a platform.
At the very least, this MCG win takes its place among other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd departed into a stunning sunset, the players gathered on the field to commence their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, men. You've earned this one.
