In a display cabinet on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a neon pink ensemble worn by the pop star. His performance in front of a hundred thousand fans was considered a triumph.
You might not enjoy Robbie Williams. You might think he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, conceding that some tracks are belting while others are poor.
The central idea is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to create music or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on external factors.
The climate, the session, the red ball – the list is endless. Most important is the pitch.
If the format is art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the players create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the established format dismantled and reassembled in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the pitch which produced a win and the another short match of the series.
Having a thick layer on the surface, resulting in 36 wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and counting. At times, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Other times, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling due to the time made in other matches.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Certain variables are embraced more easily than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the best players were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about finding solutions – reading the situation and adjusting appropriately. The best individual innings were made by acknowledged stars. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the supporters who have experienced 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the MCG, a sea of people made noise and sang their songs, generating a festive mood in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the attack surged, impetus when players fought back, and pure joy when the result was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with pitch problems. Previously, a match there featured a pitch with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a grind, with minimal action and endless boredom. This recent match and that previous match are extreme ends of the range – both are not the standard, yet value can be found in each.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the memory.
"This isn't the death of Test cricket at all," commented a past champion. "The people who have been privileged to see these two days have been given some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this match, the leader spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The team delivered for him, bringing back the joy to his countenance.
New faces stepped up with key contributions. These are baby steps, hardly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a starting point to develop from.
Ultimately, this triumph is added to other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team gathered on the turf to start their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, lads. You've earned this one.
