In a glass case on the third floor of the MCG sits a neon pink suit donned by the entertainer. The show in front of a massive crowd of attendees was considered a triumph.
You might not enjoy Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music in history. Or you could adopt a balanced view, conceding that some tracks are fantastic while others are terrible.
The central idea is that enjoyment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to produce literature or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by external factors.
The elements, the session, the ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the wicket.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the blank slate on which the athletes create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the great game taken to pieces and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the surface which yielded a victory and the second two-day Test of the series.
Allowing excessive grass on the wicket, leading to a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The format is a varied portfolio, a long history and counting. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Other times, it grips and turns on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are particularly captivating because of the patience devoted elsewhere.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are accepted more freely than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the top batters were hindered from playing their natural game.
The format is about adapting to challenges – assessing the situation and adapting accordingly. The two highest individual scores were made by world-class batters. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Go and inform the supporters who have endured years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the stadium, thousands waved their flags and created an atmosphere, fostering a festive mood in a stronghold of sport.
There was optimism as the bowlers surged, impetus when players responded, and pure joy when the result was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a game there featured a strip with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a grind, with limited drama and slow play. The two-day game and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the range – one is not more perfect, yet historical weight can be found in both.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the history books.
"It's not the end of the long game at all," observed a veteran. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these two days have been treated to some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this Test, the leader talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The players responded for him, restoring the joy to his countenance.
Emerging talents performed with key contributions. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to secure long-term futures, but a starting point to build on.
At the very least, this triumph joins other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans slipped away into a stunning sunset, the team gathered on the outfield to start their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, lads. It's well deserved.
