Within a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a neon pink ensemble worn by the entertainer. His show in front of a hundred thousand fans was hailed as a triumph.
It's possible you enjoy his music. 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 excellent while others are terrible.
The point being is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to produce literature or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon the environment.
The weather, the hour of play, the red ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the pitch.
If the format is art, the strip is the blank slate on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the great game broken apart and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the pitch which produced a triumph and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Leaving a thick layer on the wicket, causing 36 wickets being taken in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a varied portfolio, a long history and ongoing. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the ball moves excessively for the seamers. In contrast, it turns square on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are particularly captivating because of the patience made during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The True Test
Specific conditions are accepted more readily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about finding solutions – assessing the conditions and responding effectively. The best individual scores were made by recognized stars. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the devotees who have suffered years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the MCG, a sea of people made noise and created an atmosphere, generating a party atmosphere in a stronghold of national pride.
There was optimism as the fielding side excelled, momentum when batters fought back, and pure joy when the result was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with difficult wickets. Previously, a game there featured a pitch with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a slog, with limited drama and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the range – one is not more ideal, yet historical weight can be ascribed to both.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the end of the format at all," said a former player. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been experienced some real entertainment. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this Test, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The players responded for him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his persona.
New faces delivered with vital performances. These are small positives, hardly enough to secure long-term futures, but a foundation to use as a platform.
In the end, this MCG win joins other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans slipped away into a stunning sunset, the team assembled on the field to commence their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, lads. You've earned this one.
