Within a glass case on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a vibrant pink ensemble worn by the entertainer. The performance in front of a massive crowd of attendees was considered a triumph.
It's possible you like his music. You might think he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, acknowledging that some songs are belting while others are poor.
The point being is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no one way to create music or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon conditions.
The climate, the time of day, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is art, the strip is the foundation on which the players paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the great game broken apart and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the wicket which produced a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Having 10mm of grass on the wicket, causing 36 wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is mistaken.
The format is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and counting. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the ball does all sorts for the seamers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating owing to the time devoted during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Some factors are accepted more easily than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the attack. That the top batters were hindered from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – reading the situation and adjusting accordingly. The top two individual scores were made by acknowledged batters. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the supporters who have suffered years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the MCG, a sea of people made noise and chanted, producing a carnival vibe in a heartland of national pride.
There was hope as the attack surged, advantage when players responded, and rapturous celebration when the victory was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Previously, a game there featured a strip with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a slog, with limited drama and interminable tedium. This recent match and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the scale – one is not more perfect, yet historical weight can be attached to both.
Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the death of the long game at all," observed a former player. "The people who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been given some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The team protected him, bringing back the smile to his face.
Different players stepped up with vital performances. These are small positives, certainly not enough to secure long-term futures, but a starting point to develop from.
Ultimately, this MCG win is added to other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd left into a stunning sunset, the players assembled on the outfield to begin their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
