Displayed inside a display cabinet on the third floor of the MCG rests a neon pink suit worn by the entertainer. The concert in front of a hundred thousand spectators was seen as a triumph.
It's possible you enjoy his music. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music in history. Or you could adopt a balanced view, acknowledging that some songs are belting while others are awful.
The key argument is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to craft literature or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon the environment.
The climate, the hour of play, the ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the wicket.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the players create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the established format taken to pieces and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the surface which resulted in a victory and the another short match of the contest.
Leaving a thick layer on the surface, leading to numerous dismissals tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, a long history and counting. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting due to the patience devoted in other matches.
Adaptation: The True Test
Specific conditions are tolerated more readily than others.
The argument in during the match was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the top batters were hindered from showcasing their talents.
The format is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the situation and adjusting appropriately. The two highest individual scores were made by acknowledged batters. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the devotees who have experienced years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the ground, a sea of people waved their flags and chanted, producing a carnival vibe in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the attack excelled, advantage when batters fought back, and rapturous celebration when the win was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with difficult wickets. In the past, a match there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a non-event.
That fixture was a grind, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that slow Test are polar opposites of the scale – one is not more perfect, yet value can be found in both.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the death of the format at all," said a past champion. "Fans who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been treated to some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this match, the skipper talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The team protected him, bringing back the smile to his face.
New faces stepped up with crucial roles. These are small positives, not nearly enough to secure long-term futures, but a foundation to build on.
At the very least, this MCG win joins other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad assembled on the turf to start their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
