In a glass case on the third floor of the MCG rests a vibrant pink ensemble worn by the pop star. His concert in front of a massive crowd of attendees was considered a success.
You might not enjoy Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some tracks are excellent while others are awful.
The key argument is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no one way to produce art or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon the environment.
The elements, the time of day, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reassembled in an unusual manner.
This is not a endorsement of the pitch which yielded a victory and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Allowing a thick layer on the pitch, causing 36 wickets being taken in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and ongoing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the ball moves excessively for the fast men. Other times, it spins sharply on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling due to the investment devoted during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Specific conditions are accepted more readily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the best players were hindered from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the wicket and adapting effectively. The best individual scores were made by recognized players. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the devotees who have suffered 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the stadium, a sea of people celebrated and chanted, generating a party atmosphere in a heartland of sport.
There was hope as the fielding side excelled, impetus when the top order scored quickly, and unconditional love when the win was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a pitch with all the life of a a damp squib.
That match was a marathon, with minimal action and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the spectrum – neither perfect, yet historical weight can be ascribed to each.
At this stage into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the memory.
"Far from being the demise of the long game at all," observed a past champion. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been treated to some real entertainment. A unique show."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this Test, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The team protected him, bringing back the joy to his persona.
New faces performed with key contributions. These are small positives, not nearly enough to ensure long-term success, but something to use as a platform.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd departed into a stunning sunset, the squad congregated on the outfield to start their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, lads. It's well deserved.
