In a glass case on the third floor of the MCG sits a vibrant pink ensemble donned by the entertainer. His show in front of a hundred thousand attendees was considered a triumph.
Perhaps you don't appreciate Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the finest offering to music known to man. You might take a balanced view, admitting that some hits are belting while others are poor.
The central idea is that enjoyment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no one way to craft literature or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by external factors.
The weather, the time of day, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the pitch.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the foundation on which the players craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the established format broken apart and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the wicket which produced a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the wicket, leading to 36 wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The format is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and ongoing. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting due to the patience made elsewhere.
Adjustment: The True Test
Specific conditions are accepted more freely than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the top batters were unable from playing their natural game.
The format is about finding solutions – reading the situation and adjusting effectively. The top two individual innings were made by acknowledged players. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the supporters who have experienced years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the MCG, thousands waved their flags and chanted, producing a party atmosphere in a heartland of sport.
There was optimism as the attack excelled, advantage when batters fought back, and rapturous celebration when the victory was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has form with pitch problems. In the past, a match there featured a pitch with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a marathon, with limited drama and slow play. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the range – both are not the standard, yet value can be attached to each.
At this stage into the current series, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the memory.
"It's not the demise of the format at all," commented a past champion. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been experienced some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The squad delivered for him, reinstating the smile to his persona.
Emerging talents performed with crucial roles. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to ensure long-term futures, but something to build on.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory is added to other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players assembled on the field to begin their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, lads. You've earned this one.
