In a glass case on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a vibrant pink outfit worn by the pop star. The show in front of a massive crowd of attendees was considered a success.
You might not like Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, admitting that some songs are excellent while others are awful.
The key argument is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is not a single method to craft music or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on the environment.
The elements, the hour of play, the red ball – the list is endless. Most important is the pitch.
If Test cricket is art, the pitch is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the great game dismantled and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
This is not a defence of the wicket which yielded a win and the second two-day Test of the series.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the pitch, resulting in numerous dismissals tumbling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and counting. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it turns square on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting owing to the time devoted during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The True Test
Certain variables are accepted more readily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were unable from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the conditions and responding effectively. The best individual scores were made by acknowledged batters. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Try telling the devotees who have endured years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the ground, a sea of people waved their flags and created an atmosphere, fostering a party atmosphere in a stronghold of national pride.
There was hope as the bowlers surged, impetus when players fought back, and unconditional love when the win was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has form with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a game there featured a pitch with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a slog, with minimal action and slow play. This recent match and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the scale – neither perfect, yet value can be found in both.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the end of the format at all," said a former player. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these short time have been treated to some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this Test, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The players responded for him, reinstating the joy to his face.
Different players stepped up with vital performances. These are baby steps, hardly enough to secure long-term futures, but a starting point to build on.
At the very least, this MCG win is added to other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters left into a stunning sunset, the squad assembled on the outfield to commence their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
