Within a display cabinet on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a vibrant pink suit donned by the entertainer. His show in front of 100,024 attendees was considered a triumph.
It's possible you like the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some hits are fantastic while others are poor.
The key argument is that amusement can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to produce music or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on the environment.
The climate, the hour of play, the ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the wicket.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the foundation on which the players create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport broken apart and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the wicket which resulted in a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Having 10mm of grass on the surface, resulting in 36 wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, a long history and counting. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Other times, it turns square on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling due to the investment committed during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Some factors are embraced more easily than others.
The argument in during the match was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the top batters were unable from playing their natural game.
The format is about problem solving – interpreting the wicket and adjusting appropriately. The best individual contributions were made by recognized stars. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the supporters who have suffered 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the MCG, thousands waved their flags and created an atmosphere, generating a party atmosphere in a bastion of national pride.
There was optimism as the attack excelled, advantage when batters responded, and rapturous celebration when the win was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a match there featured a strip with all the life of a a damp squib.
That match was a grind, with few wickets and endless boredom. This recent match and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the range – both are not perfect, yet value can be attached to each.
At this stage into the current series, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the memory.
"It's not the death of the format at all," said a past champion. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been experienced some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this Test, the leader spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The squad protected him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his persona.
Different players stepped up with vital performances. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a starting point to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this MCG win joins other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters departed into a stunning sunset, the team congregated on the outfield to commence their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
