Within a glass case on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a electric pink ensemble worn by the entertainer. His concert in front of a massive crowd of spectators was considered a triumph.
It's possible you appreciate his music. You might think he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, conceding that some hits are belting while others are terrible.
The central idea is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no one way to produce music or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon the environment.
The weather, the session, the ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the playing surface.
If the format is a form of art, the pitch is the canvas on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport dismantled and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the wicket which produced a triumph and the another short match of the contest.
Having excessive grass on the surface, leading to numerous dismissals tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The long game is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and counting. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the fast men. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling due to the patience committed in other matches.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Some factors are tolerated more easily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the balance was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the top batters were unable from playing their natural game.
Test cricket is about problem solving – reading the wicket and responding effectively. The best individual scores were made by acknowledged players. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the devotees who have experienced 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the stadium, thousands made noise and sang their songs, producing a festive mood in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the fielding side excelled, momentum when batters responded, and unconditional love when the result was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has form with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a match there featured a wicket with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a slog, with limited drama and slow play. The two-day game and that slow Test are extreme ends of the scale – neither the standard, yet historical weight can be ascribed to both.
At this stage into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the demise of Test cricket at all," said a veteran. "Fans who have been privileged to see these two days have been experienced some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this match, the leader spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The team protected him, restoring the smile to his countenance.
Emerging talents performed with key contributions. These are small positives, hardly enough to ensure long-term stability, but a starting point to use as a platform.
In the end, this Melbourne victory joins other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd slipped away into a beautiful night, the team gathered on the outfield to commence their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, boys. You've earned this one.
