Within a showcase on the upper level of the MCG rests a neon pink outfit worn by the entertainer. His performance in front of a massive crowd of fans was hailed as a success.
Perhaps you don't appreciate his music. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, admitting that some hits are excellent while others are awful.
The point being is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no one way to produce art or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by the environment.
The weather, the time of day, the red ball – the list is endless. Most important is the pitch.
If the format is art, the pitch is the foundation on which the players craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport dismantled and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the pitch which resulted in a triumph and the second two-day Test of the series.
Leaving excessive grass on the pitch, resulting in numerous dismissals falling in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and still growing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. Sometimes, it turns square on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are particularly captivating due to the patience devoted elsewhere.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Certain variables are embraced more readily than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the attack. That the top batters were unable from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the situation and responding effectively. The top two individual contributions were made by world-class players. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the devotees who have endured 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the MCG, a sea of people celebrated and sang their songs, producing a festive mood in a stronghold of national pride.
There was hope as the fielding side surged, advantage when the top order responded, and rapturous celebration when the win was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with controversial surfaces. In the past, a Test there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a non-event.
That match was a marathon, with limited drama and endless boredom. The two-day game and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the range – both are not ideal, yet significance can be found in each.
Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the history books.
"This isn't the death of the format at all," said a past champion. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been experienced some real entertainment. A unique show."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this match, the leader talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The team protected him, restoring the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Emerging talents performed with key contributions. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to ensure long-term stability, but something to build on.
At the very least, this triumph is added to other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team congregated on the turf to start their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
