Displayed inside a display cabinet on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a vibrant pink suit worn by the pop star. His show in front of a massive crowd of spectators was seen as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't appreciate Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music known to man. You might take a balanced view, acknowledging that some tracks are belting while others are awful.
The central idea is that amusement can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is not a single method to create music or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by conditions.
The weather, the session, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the pitch.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the blank slate on which the cricketers create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reconstructed in abstract form.
This is not a defence of the wicket which resulted in a victory and the another short match of the series.
Having excessive grass on the surface, causing numerous dismissals being taken in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is incorrect.
The long game is a varied portfolio, a long history and still growing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Other times, it turns square on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are particularly captivating owing to the investment devoted in other matches.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are accepted more readily than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the best players were unable from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about problem solving – assessing the wicket and responding effectively. The best individual innings were made by world-class batters. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the supporters who have suffered 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the stadium, countless fans celebrated and created an atmosphere, producing a festive mood in a bastion of national pride.
There was belief as the attack dominated, impetus when players responded, and unconditional love when the result was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with pitch problems. Previously, a Test there featured a wicket with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a slog, with minimal action and slow play. This recent match and that slow Test are polar opposites of the spectrum – neither the standard, yet significance can be ascribed to each.
At this stage into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the end of the long game at all," said a former player. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been treated to some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this Test, the captain spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The players protected him, reinstating the joy to his persona.
New faces delivered with key contributions. These are small positives, certainly not enough to secure long-term stability, but a foundation to build on.
Ultimately, this triumph joins other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players assembled on the field to commence their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, lads. You've earned this one.
