Within a showcase on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a electric pink ensemble donned by the pop star. His concert in front of a massive crowd of spectators was considered a success.
Perhaps you don't appreciate Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some songs are excellent while others are terrible.
The central idea is that amusement can take many forms. You like what you like. There is not a single method to create literature or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by conditions.
The elements, the time of day, the red ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the wicket.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the foundation on which the athletes create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport dismantled and reassembled in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the surface which resulted in a triumph and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Having a thick layer on the wicket, leading to 36 wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, a long history and counting. At times, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling owing to the investment made in other matches.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Specific conditions are accepted more freely than others.
The argument in during the match was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about finding solutions – reading the wicket and adapting appropriately. The best individual contributions were made by recognized batters. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the supporters who have experienced years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the stadium, a sea of people celebrated and sang their songs, generating a carnival vibe in a heartland of sport.
There was belief as the attack surged, impetus when batters fought back, and pure joy when the win was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with pitch problems. Previously, a game there featured a wicket with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a grind, with few wickets and slow play. This recent match and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – neither perfect, yet historical weight can be attached to each.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the memory.
"Far from being the death of the format at all," observed a veteran. "The people who have been fortunate to see these two days have been treated to some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this match, the leader talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The players responded for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his face.
Emerging talents performed with crucial roles. These are small positives, not nearly enough to secure long-term futures, but something to develop from.
Ultimately, this MCG win is added to other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad assembled on the outfield to start their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, boys. You've earned this one.
