Displayed inside a display cabinet on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a vibrant pink outfit performed in by the entertainer. His performance in front of 100,024 spectators was seen as a triumph.
You might not enjoy his music. You might think he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a balanced view, acknowledging that some songs are belting while others are poor.
The central idea is that enjoyment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to create music or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon conditions.
The elements, the time of day, the ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the wicket.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the canvas on which the players craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport dismantled and reconstructed in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the wicket which resulted in a win and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Having a thick layer on the pitch, causing 36 wickets being taken in less than two days, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
The long game is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and ongoing. At times, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the fast men. Other times, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting because of the investment made during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are tolerated more easily than others.
The argument in during the match was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the best players were prevented from playing their natural game.
The format is about problem solving – reading the situation and adapting appropriately. The two highest individual scores were made by acknowledged batters. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the supporters who have experienced years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the MCG, a sea of people made noise and chanted, producing a festive mood in a stronghold of national pride.
There was hope as the attack dominated, momentum when players fought back, and rapturous celebration when the victory was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has a history with pitch problems. In the past, a Test there featured a wicket with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a slog, with limited drama and slow play. The latest encounter and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the scale – one is not more perfect, yet historical weight can be found in each.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the end of Test cricket at all," commented a past champion. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been given some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this Test, the leader spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The squad delivered for him, reinstating the smile to his face.
Emerging talents delivered with key contributions. These are small positives, not nearly enough to ensure long-term stability, but a foundation to develop from.
At the very least, this triumph joins other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd departed into a beautiful night, the players assembled on the field to begin their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, men. You've earned this one.
