In a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a vibrant pink outfit worn by the pop star. The show in front of a massive crowd of spectators was seen as a triumph.
You might not appreciate Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music in history. Or you could adopt a middle ground, admitting that some hits are excellent while others are awful.
The key argument is that enjoyment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to craft art or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on the environment.
The elements, the session, the red ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the strip is the blank slate on which the athletes create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the great game dismantled and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the wicket which yielded a win and the second two-day Test of the series.
Leaving a thick layer on the surface, leading to numerous dismissals falling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and still growing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the ball does all sorts for the seamers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are particularly captivating due to the patience devoted during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The True Test
Some factors are tolerated more easily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the best players were unable from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about finding solutions – assessing the wicket and adapting effectively. The top two individual innings were made by acknowledged batters. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the devotees who have endured a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the MCG, thousands made noise and chanted, generating a party atmosphere in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the bowlers excelled, impetus when batters scored quickly, and unconditional love when the victory was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with difficult wickets. Previously, a match there featured a wicket with all the life of a a damp squib.
That contest was a marathon, with minimal action and endless boredom. The two-day game and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the range – one is not more ideal, yet significance can be ascribed to them.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the history books.
"Far from being the end of the format at all," commented a past champion. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these two days have been experienced some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this Test, the captain talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The team delivered for him, bringing back the joy to his countenance.
New faces performed with key contributions. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term success, but a starting point to build on.
Ultimately, this MCG win joins other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players gathered on the outfield to commence their own festivities.
Celebrate the win, men. It's well deserved.
