In a showcase on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a neon pink ensemble worn by the pop star. The performance in front of a massive crowd of fans was seen as a success.
It's possible you appreciate Robbie Williams. You might think he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a middle ground, acknowledging that some songs are fantastic while others are awful.
The point being is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to produce music or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon external factors.
The climate, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the pitch.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the established format dismantled and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the pitch which produced a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Leaving excessive grass on the surface, leading to numerous dismissals falling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is mistaken.
The format is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and ongoing. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are particularly captivating due to the time committed during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The True Test
Certain variables are accepted more easily than others.
The argument in during the match was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the top batters were unable from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the conditions and responding appropriately. The two highest individual contributions were made by world-class batters. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Try telling the supporters who have experienced a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the ground, a sea of people made noise and created an atmosphere, generating a party atmosphere in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the fielding side surged, impetus when the top order fought back, and rapturous celebration when the win was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with difficult wickets. In the past, a game there featured a strip with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a slog, with limited drama and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the scale – both are not ideal, yet historical weight can be attached to each.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the history books.
"It's not the demise of the long game at all," observed a past champion. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been treated to some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The squad delivered for him, reinstating the joy to his countenance.
Emerging talents stepped up with key contributions. These are small positives, not nearly enough to ensure long-term stability, but a starting point to use as a platform.
In the end, this Melbourne victory is added to other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd left into a beautiful night, the squad assembled on the turf to begin their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, boys. You've earned this one.
