Displayed inside a display cabinet on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a neon pink ensemble worn by the entertainer. His performance in front of a massive crowd of fans was hailed as a success.
Perhaps you don't like the performer. You might think he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. You might take a reasonable stance, admitting that some hits are belting while others are awful.
The point being is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no one way to craft art or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on the environment.
The weather, the hour of play, the ball – the list is endless. Above all is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is art, the strip is the blank slate on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the established format dismantled and reassembled in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the surface which produced a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the pitch, causing a cascade of wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is mistaken.
The format is a rich tapestry, a long history and ongoing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are particularly captivating owing to the time devoted elsewhere.
Adjustment: The True Test
Some factors are embraced more readily than others.
The contention in during the match was that the balance was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the top batters were unable from playing their natural game.
Test cricket is about finding solutions – assessing the situation and adapting effectively. The best individual scores were made by recognized stars. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the fans who have experienced 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the ground, thousands made noise and created an atmosphere, generating a carnival vibe in a heartland of national pride.
There was optimism as the attack excelled, impetus when the top order scored quickly, and unconditional love when the win was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a game there featured a strip with the excitement of a a non-event.
That match was a grind, with minimal action and endless boredom. This recent match and that slow Test are extreme ends of the range – both are not ideal, yet value can be ascribed to them.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the history books.
"Far from being the death of the format at all," commented a veteran. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been experienced some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The team responded for him, reinstating the smile to his countenance.
New faces stepped up with vital performances. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to secure long-term success, but something to build on.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the fans departed into a stunning sunset, the squad gathered on the turf to commence their own festivities.
Celebrate the win, boys. It's well deserved.
