Displayed inside a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a electric pink ensemble donned by the entertainer. His concert in front of a hundred thousand spectators was seen as a triumph.
It's possible you enjoy the performer. You might think he is the finest offering to music in history. Or you could adopt a balanced view, conceding that some songs are fantastic while others are awful.
The key argument is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is no one way to produce literature or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on external factors.
The climate, the session, the red ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the pitch.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the foundation on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the great game taken to pieces and stuck back together in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the surface which resulted in a triumph and the another short match of the series.
Leaving excessive grass on the wicket, causing numerous dismissals being taken in less than two days, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
The long game is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and still growing. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Other times, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting owing to the patience made elsewhere.
Adjustment: The True Test
Some factors are tolerated more easily than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the best players were unable from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the conditions and adapting accordingly. The two highest individual contributions were made by world-class players. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the devotees who have suffered a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the stadium, countless fans made noise and chanted, producing a party atmosphere in a bastion of sport.
There was hope as the bowlers excelled, impetus when batters fought back, and rapturous celebration when the result was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with controversial surfaces. In the past, a Test there featured a wicket with the character of a a non-event.
That contest was a grind, with minimal action and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that slow Test are polar opposites of the scale – both are not the standard, yet significance can be attached to them.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the demise of the long game at all," commented a veteran. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been experienced some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this match, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The team responded for him, restoring the joy to his countenance.
New faces delivered with key contributions. These are small positives, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a starting point to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this triumph is added to other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans slipped away into a beautiful night, the players congregated on the field to begin their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, boys. It's well deserved.
