In a showcase on the upper level of the MCG is housed a electric pink ensemble donned by the entertainer. His concert in front of 100,024 attendees was hailed as a success.
It's possible you like Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, admitting that some hits are fantastic while others are awful.
The central idea is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no one way to produce art or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on conditions.
The climate, the time of day, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the pitch.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the wicket is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the established format dismantled and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the surface which resulted in a win and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Having excessive grass on the wicket, leading to a cascade of wickets being taken in less than a brief period, 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 not a proper Test, is mistaken.
The long game is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and ongoing. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The close matches are even more exciting due to the time devoted during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Some factors are embraced more easily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the top batters were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the wicket and adapting appropriately. The top two individual contributions were made by recognized batters. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the supporters who have endured years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the ground, thousands made noise and sang their songs, generating a festive mood in a bastion of sport.
There was optimism as the attack dominated, advantage when batters fought back, and unconditional love when the victory was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a game there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a non-event.
That match was a marathon, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the spectrum – both are not the standard, yet value can be found in each.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the demise of the format at all," said a former player. "The people who have been privileged to see these short time have been treated to some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The players protected him, bringing back the joy to his persona.
Emerging talents performed with key contributions. These are small positives, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term success, but a starting point to develop from.
Ultimately, this MCG win is added to other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans departed into a beautiful night, the players congregated on the outfield to start their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, men. You've earned this one.
