In a glass case on the third floor of the MCG is housed a neon pink suit donned by the pop star. The performance in front of a hundred thousand spectators was seen as a success.
You might not appreciate Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Or you could adopt a balanced view, conceding that some songs are excellent while others are terrible.
The central idea is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to create music or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on the environment.
The climate, the time of day, the ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the pitch.
If the long game is a form of art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the established format dismantled and reassembled in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the wicket which resulted in a win and the another short match of the series.
Having a thick layer on the pitch, leading to a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The format is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and ongoing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Other times, it grips and turns on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are particularly captivating owing to the investment committed during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are embraced more readily than others.
The debate in during the match was that the balance was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were unable from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the wicket and adapting accordingly. The top two individual scores were made by world-class players. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Try telling the devotees who have endured 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the ground, a sea of people waved their flags and chanted, generating a festive mood in a heartland of national pride.
There was belief as the attack excelled, momentum when the top order responded, and pure joy when the win was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a match there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a slog, with few wickets and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that previous match are polar opposites of the range – one is not more the standard, yet historical weight can be attached to each.
At this stage into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the death of the long game at all," said a past champion. "Fans who have been privileged to see these two days have been treated to some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this match, the leader spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The team responded for him, reinstating the smile to his countenance.
Different players performed with key contributions. These are small positives, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a starting point to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this MCG win joins other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd slipped away into a beautiful night, the team gathered on the outfield to commence their own festivities.
Savour the moment, men. It's well deserved.
