Displayed inside a display cabinet on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a vibrant pink ensemble worn by the entertainer. The performance in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a success.
Perhaps you don't appreciate Robbie Williams. You might think he is the greatest gift to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, conceding that some songs are fantastic while others are terrible.
The point being is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to create literature or even five-day cricket.
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by the environment.
The climate, the time of day, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the playing surface.
If the format is art, the pitch is the foundation on which the athletes craft their legacy.
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the great game taken to pieces and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the wicket which resulted in a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Having 10mm of grass on the surface, leading to numerous dismissals falling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and ongoing. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating owing to the investment devoted during quieter periods.
Certain variables are accepted more readily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about problem solving – reading the wicket and responding effectively. The top two individual contributions were made by acknowledged batters. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Attempt to convince the devotees who have suffered years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the stadium, a sea of people waved their flags and sang their songs, fostering a carnival vibe in a stronghold of sport.
There was optimism as the bowlers dominated, advantage when batters responded, and pure joy when the victory was confirmed.
The Melbourne has previous experience with pitch problems. In the past, a match there featured a pitch with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a grind, with minimal action and endless boredom. The two-day game and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the range – neither the standard, yet historical weight can be attached to each.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the history books.
"This isn't the end of Test cricket at all," said a past champion. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been treated to some real entertainment. A unique show."
In the preparation to this Test, the captain spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The players delivered for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his countenance.
New faces stepped up with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to ensure long-term stability, but a starting point to use as a platform.
At the very least, this MCG win joins other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans departed into a stunning sunset, the players congregated on the turf to start their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
Eva de Vries is a passionate book lover and local writer from Eindhoven.
