Within a glass case on the upper level of the MCG is housed a vibrant pink outfit worn by the entertainer. The show in front of a massive crowd of fans was seen as a success.
Perhaps you don't enjoy his music. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, admitting that some hits are fantastic while others are terrible.
The central idea is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no one way to create art or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon the environment.
The elements, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Above all is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport broken apart and reassembled in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the surface which resulted in a triumph and the another short match of the contest.
Allowing a thick layer on the wicket, resulting in a cascade of wickets falling in less than two days, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and ongoing. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. Other times, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are even more exciting because of the investment devoted in other matches.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Some factors are embraced more readily than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the balance was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the best players were hindered from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about problem solving – assessing the conditions and adapting appropriately. The two highest individual contributions were made by world-class batters. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the supporters who have endured a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the ground, countless fans waved their flags and chanted, generating a carnival vibe in a bastion of national pride.
There was hope as the attack excelled, momentum when players responded, and unconditional love when the victory was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has form with pitch problems. Previously, a match there featured a strip with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That match was a slog, with minimal action and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – one is not more the standard, yet significance can be found in each.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the memory.
"This isn't the end of the format at all," observed a veteran. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been given some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this Test, the skipper talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The players responded for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his persona.
Emerging talents stepped up with vital performances. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to secure long-term stability, but something to develop from.
In the end, this MCG win is added to other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans left into a beautiful night, the players congregated on the outfield to begin their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
