Displayed inside a showcase on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a vibrant pink suit worn by the entertainer. The performance in front of 100,024 fans was considered a major hit.
It's possible you appreciate the performer. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a balanced view, admitting that some tracks are excellent while others are poor.
The point being is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no one way to create art or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon conditions.
The weather, the session, the red ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the wicket.
If the format is a form of art, the pitch is the foundation on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the established format broken apart and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the wicket which resulted in a win and the second two-day Test of the series.
Leaving excessive grass on the wicket, resulting in numerous dismissals tumbling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and counting. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the fast men. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The close matches are even more exciting due to the patience committed during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Some factors are embraced more readily than others.
The contention in during the match was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the best players were hindered from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the wicket and adjusting appropriately. The two highest individual innings were made by world-class batters. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the devotees who have experienced a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the ground, thousands made noise and chanted, generating a carnival vibe in a stronghold of national pride.
There was belief as the attack dominated, impetus when the top order fought back, and unconditional love when the win was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has form with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a match there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a non-event.
That contest was a slog, with limited drama and endless boredom. The two-day game and that slow Test are polar opposites of the scale – both are not perfect, yet value can be attached to them.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the history books.
"Far from being the death of Test cricket at all," commented a past champion. "The people who have been fortunate to see these short time have been experienced some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this Test, the leader talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The squad responded for him, reinstating the joy to his persona.
New faces delivered with vital performances. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a foundation to build on.
In the end, this MCG win takes its place among other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans departed into a beautiful night, the squad assembled on the field to start their own festivities.
Celebrate the win, lads. It's well deserved.
