Within a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a neon pink suit worn by the entertainer. His show in front of a hundred thousand spectators was seen as a success.
You might not enjoy his music. You might think he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, acknowledging that some tracks are fantastic while others are terrible.
The key argument is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no one way to create music or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon the environment.
The weather, the time of day, the red ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the foundation on which the players create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reassembled in an unusual manner.
This is not a defence of the surface which produced a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Allowing a thick layer on the surface, causing a cascade of wickets being taken in less than six sessions, 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 marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and still growing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling owing to the time made during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are accepted more readily than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were unable from showcasing their talents.
The format is about finding solutions – interpreting the conditions and adjusting appropriately. The best individual scores were made by recognized players. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the devotees who have suffered 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the ground, a sea of people celebrated and created an atmosphere, generating a festive mood in a heartland of national pride.
There was optimism as the attack dominated, advantage when players responded, and rapturous celebration when the win was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a game there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a non-event.
That contest was a marathon, with few wickets and endless boredom. This recent match and that previous match are extreme ends of the spectrum – both are not perfect, yet significance can be ascribed to each.
At this stage into the current series, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the memory.
"This isn't the death of the long game at all," observed a veteran. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been experienced some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this Test, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The squad delivered for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his persona.
Emerging talents stepped up with key contributions. These are baby steps, hardly enough to ensure long-term futures, but a starting point to develop from.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory is added to other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans departed into a stunning sunset, the squad congregated on the turf to begin their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
