Displayed inside a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the MCG is housed a neon pink ensemble worn by the entertainer. The concert in front of a massive crowd of spectators was considered a major hit.
You might not like the performer. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some tracks are fantastic while others are terrible.
The key argument is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no one way to produce art or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by conditions.
The climate, the hour of play, the ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the pitch.
If the format is art, the wicket is the canvas on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the great game broken apart and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the pitch which resulted in a win and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Having 10mm of grass on the surface, causing numerous dismissals being taken in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a varied portfolio, a long history and still growing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling because of the patience committed in other matches.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Some factors are accepted more easily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the top batters were unable from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the situation and adapting accordingly. The two highest individual innings were made by recognized players. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Go and inform the supporters who have experienced a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the stadium, countless fans waved their flags and sang their songs, fostering a festive mood in a stronghold of sport.
There was belief as the attack dominated, momentum when players responded, and rapturous celebration when the win was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with controversial surfaces. In the past, a match there featured a strip with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a marathon, with limited drama and slow play. The two-day game and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – both are not perfect, yet significance can be ascribed to them.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the memory.
"It's not the death of Test cricket at all," said a veteran. "Fans who have been privileged to see these short time have been experienced some genuine drama. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The team responded for him, restoring the joy to his persona.
Emerging talents stepped up with crucial roles. These are small positives, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a starting point to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory joins other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd slipped away into a stunning sunset, the team congregated on the field to begin their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, men. You've earned this one.
