In a glass case on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a vibrant pink ensemble performed in by the pop star. The show in front of a massive crowd of spectators was seen as a success.
Perhaps you don't appreciate Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music in history. Or you could adopt a balanced view, acknowledging that some tracks are excellent while others are poor.
The central idea is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no one way to create literature or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by conditions.
The elements, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the pitch.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the canvas on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the established format broken apart and reconstructed in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the pitch which resulted in a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the pitch, causing a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is incorrect.
The format is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and ongoing. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. In contrast, it turns square on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are even more exciting owing to the patience devoted in other matches.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are accepted more easily than others.
The argument in during the match was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the attack. That the best players were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the situation and adjusting accordingly. The two highest individual contributions were made by world-class stars. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the fans who have endured years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the ground, a sea of people waved their flags and sang their songs, producing a party atmosphere in a bastion of sport.
There was belief as the attack excelled, impetus when the top order fought back, and unconditional love when the victory was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a match there featured a pitch with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a slog, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the scale – neither the standard, yet historical weight can be attached to both.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the death of Test cricket at all," commented a veteran. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been experienced some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this Test, the leader talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The players delivered for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his persona.
Emerging talents delivered with crucial roles. These are baby steps, hardly enough to guarantee long-term success, but something to develop from.
In the end, this MCG win takes its place among other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters departed into a stunning sunset, the squad gathered on the outfield to begin their own festivities.
Savour the moment, men. It's well deserved.
