Displayed inside a glass case on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a neon pink outfit worn by the entertainer. The performance in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a success.
Perhaps you don't appreciate his music. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, admitting that some tracks are excellent while others are terrible.
The point being is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to create literature or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by the environment.
The elements, the session, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the pitch.
If the format is art, the strip is the foundation on which the athletes craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match 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 endorsement of the pitch which produced a victory and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the surface, leading to 36 wickets being taken in less than two days, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and counting. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball moves excessively for the fast men. Other times, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are particularly captivating because of the patience committed elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Some factors are embraced more freely than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the top batters were unable from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about problem solving – assessing the wicket and adapting effectively. The two highest individual contributions were made by recognized stars. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Try telling the supporters who have suffered 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the stadium, a sea of people waved their flags and sang their songs, fostering a carnival vibe in a heartland of sport.
There was optimism as the bowlers excelled, momentum when the top order scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the win was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Previously, a Test there featured a strip with all the life of a a non-event.
That fixture was a slog, with few wickets and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the range – both are not the standard, yet significance can be found in both.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the history books.
"It's not the demise of Test cricket at all," said a past champion. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been given some genuine drama. A unique show."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this match, the leader talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The squad protected him, bringing back the joy to his face.
Different players performed with crucial roles. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to secure long-term stability, but a starting point to develop from.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory joins other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans left into a beautiful night, the squad congregated on the turf to begin their own festivities.
Savour the moment, lads. It's well deserved.
