In a display cabinet on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a neon pink ensemble donned by the entertainer. The performance in front of 100,024 fans was hailed as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't enjoy the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, admitting that some hits are excellent while others are poor.
The point being is that amusement can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is no one way to craft art or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on conditions.
The climate, the time of day, the ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the wicket.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the wicket is the canvas on which the athletes create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the great game taken to pieces and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the pitch which produced a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Leaving excessive grass on the surface, causing 36 wickets being taken in less than two days, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The long game is a rich tapestry, a long history and counting. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The close matches are even more exciting due to the investment made elsewhere.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Certain variables are embraced more readily than others.
The debate in during the match was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were prevented from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the situation and adapting effectively. The two highest individual innings were made by world-class players. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the fans who have experienced years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the MCG, countless fans waved their flags and sang their songs, producing a party atmosphere in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the fielding side excelled, impetus when the top order fought back, and pure joy when the victory was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has a history with pitch problems. In the past, a match there featured a pitch with the character of a a non-event.
That match was a grind, with minimal action and slow play. This recent match and that previous match are extreme ends of the range – neither ideal, yet historical weight can be found in them.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the demise of the format at all," commented a veteran. "Fans who have been privileged to see these two days have been given some real entertainment. A unique show."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this Test, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The squad delivered for him, restoring the smile to his persona.
New faces performed with crucial roles. These are small positives, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a starting point to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this MCG win takes its place among other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd left into a stunning sunset, the squad congregated on the outfield to start their own festivities.
Savour the moment, men. You've earned this one.
