Displayed inside a showcase on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a electric pink suit donned by the entertainer. His performance in front of 100,024 attendees was hailed as a success.
Perhaps you don't appreciate his music. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, acknowledging that some hits are fantastic while others are terrible.
The key argument is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no one way to create music or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by conditions.
The climate, the session, the red ball – the list is endless. Most important is the wicket.
If Test cricket is art, the pitch is the canvas on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the great game dismantled and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
This is not a endorsement of the pitch which resulted in a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Leaving a thick layer on the pitch, causing a cascade of wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
The format is a varied portfolio, a long history and counting. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Other times, it turns square on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating due to the time made in other matches.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Certain variables are embraced more readily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the top batters were prevented from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the conditions and responding effectively. The best individual innings were made by recognized stars. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the devotees who have suffered a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the stadium, thousands waved their flags and chanted, producing a carnival vibe in a bastion of national pride.
There was hope as the fielding side surged, advantage when the top order scored quickly, and unconditional love when the win was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with pitch problems. Previously, a game there featured a wicket with all the life of a a damp squib.
That match was a slog, with few wickets and slow play. The latest encounter and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – one is not more the standard, yet value can be attached to both.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't 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: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The squad delivered for him, bringing back the smile to his persona.
Different players delivered with vital performances. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to secure long-term success, but a foundation to develop from.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team congregated on the turf to start their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, lads. It's well deserved.
