Within a showcase on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a vibrant pink outfit donned by the entertainer. His performance in front of 100,024 fans was considered a success.
You might not appreciate his music. You might think he is the finest offering to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, admitting that some hits are fantastic while others are poor.
The key argument is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no one way to create music or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon external factors.
The elements, the session, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Above all is the pitch.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the pitch is the canvas on which the players create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the established format broken apart and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the surface which resulted in a triumph and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Leaving excessive grass on the pitch, resulting in numerous dismissals tumbling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The long game is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and counting. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. In contrast, it turns square on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are particularly captivating due to the investment committed elsewhere.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are tolerated more readily than others.
The debate in during the match was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the wicket and adjusting accordingly. The two highest individual contributions were made by acknowledged players. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the devotees who have experienced years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the ground, a sea of people made noise and chanted, generating a party atmosphere in a bastion of sport.
There was hope as the bowlers excelled, momentum when batters scored quickly, and unconditional love when the victory was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a game there featured a wicket with the character of a a non-event.
That fixture was a grind, with limited drama and slow play. The two-day game and that previous match are extreme ends of the spectrum – both are not perfect, yet value can be found in both.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the demise of the format at all," said a veteran. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been given some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The squad responded for him, bringing back the smile to his countenance.
New faces performed with key contributions. These are small positives, not nearly enough to ensure long-term success, but something to develop from.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters left into a stunning sunset, the squad assembled on the field to start their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, men. It's well deserved.
