Displayed inside a display cabinet on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a neon pink outfit worn by the pop star. His performance in front of a massive crowd of spectators was considered a success.
Perhaps you don't appreciate Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music known to man. You might take a middle ground, conceding that some songs are belting while others are terrible.
The central idea is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to create art or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on the environment.
The elements, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the playing surface.
If the long game is art, the wicket is the canvas on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport broken apart and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the surface which resulted in a win and the another short match of the series.
Leaving excessive grass on the wicket, resulting in numerous dismissals tumbling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is incorrect.
The format is a varied portfolio, a long history and counting. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are even more exciting because of the time made in other matches.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Some factors are tolerated more freely than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the contest was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the best players were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about finding solutions – reading the situation and adjusting accordingly. The best individual innings were made by recognized batters. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the fans who have experienced 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the stadium, thousands waved their flags and created an atmosphere, producing a carnival vibe in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the bowlers excelled, impetus when batters fought back, and unconditional love when the result was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has form with difficult wickets. Previously, a match there featured a wicket with the character of a a damp squib.
That match was a marathon, with minimal action and endless boredom. This recent match and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the range – both are not the standard, yet historical weight can be found in both.
At this stage into the current series, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the history books.
"It's not the death of Test cricket at all," observed a past champion. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these short time have been given some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this match, the skipper talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The squad delivered for him, reinstating the joy to his countenance.
Different players performed with crucial roles. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a foundation to develop from.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters departed into a stunning sunset, the players congregated on the turf to begin their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, men. You've earned this one.
