Displayed inside a display cabinet on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a vibrant pink ensemble donned by the entertainer. The show in front of a hundred thousand spectators was hailed as a success.
Perhaps you don't enjoy his music. You might think he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. You might take a middle ground, acknowledging that some songs are excellent while others are terrible.
The central idea is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to create music or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on conditions.
The weather, the hour of play, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the pitch.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the blank slate on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the established format dismantled and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
This is not a defence of the pitch which resulted in a win and the second two-day Test of the series.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the surface, causing numerous dismissals being taken in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, a long history and ongoing. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting because of the time made elsewhere.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Certain variables are embraced more freely than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the best players were unable from playing their natural game.
The format is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the wicket and adjusting appropriately. The two highest individual contributions were made by world-class players. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the supporters who have endured 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the ground, a sea of people made noise and sang their songs, fostering a party atmosphere in a heartland of sport.
There was optimism as the attack surged, impetus when the top order responded, and rapturous celebration when the result was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has form with pitch problems. Previously, a Test there featured a strip with the character of a a non-event.
That match was a marathon, with minimal action and slow play. This recent match and that previous match are polar opposites of the scale – both are not perfect, yet historical weight can be found in each.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the history books.
"It's not the end of the long game at all," commented a past champion. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been given some real entertainment. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this match, the leader talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The squad responded for him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his persona.
Different players stepped up with vital performances. These are small positives, not nearly enough to ensure long-term stability, but a foundation to develop from.
Ultimately, this triumph is added to other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans departed into a beautiful night, the players congregated on the field to begin their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
