In a glass case on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a electric pink ensemble donned by the entertainer. His concert in front of a hundred thousand fans was seen as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't enjoy his music. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, acknowledging that some hits are fantastic while others are poor.
The key argument is that amusement can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to create art or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by conditions.
The elements, the hour of play, the ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the wicket.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the blank slate on which the players create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport dismantled and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the wicket which produced a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the wicket, leading to 36 wickets being taken in less than two days, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The format is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and ongoing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the ball does all sorts for the fast men. Other times, it grips and turns on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are particularly captivating due to the patience made elsewhere.
Adjustment: The True Test
Some factors are embraced more readily than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the top batters were hindered from playing their natural game.
Test cricket is about finding solutions – reading the situation and responding appropriately. The best individual innings were made by acknowledged batters. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Try telling the supporters who have endured a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the ground, a sea of people celebrated and sang their songs, producing a festive mood in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the bowlers surged, impetus when batters responded, and pure joy when the win was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with pitch problems. Previously, a game there featured a strip with all the life of a a non-event.
That match was a marathon, with minimal action and endless boredom. This recent match and that slow Test are extreme ends of the spectrum – neither ideal, yet significance can be ascribed to each.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the memory.
"Far from being the end of Test cricket at all," said a former player. "Fans who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been experienced some real entertainment. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this match, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The squad protected him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his face.
Emerging talents stepped up with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a starting point to develop from.
Ultimately, this triumph is added to other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players assembled on the outfield to commence their own festivities.
Celebrate the win, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
