Displayed inside a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a electric pink suit worn by the entertainer. His concert in front of 100,024 spectators was seen as a triumph.
It's possible you like the performer. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music in history. You might take a middle ground, admitting that some tracks are fantastic while others are poor.
The point being is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to create art or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by the environment.
The weather, the time of day, the red ball – the list is endless. Above all is the pitch.
If the long game is a form of art, the wicket is the canvas on which the players craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the established format broken apart and reassembled in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the surface which produced a triumph and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Having a thick layer on the surface, causing numerous dismissals falling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and ongoing. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Other times, it turns square on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are even more exciting because of the investment committed during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Some factors are tolerated more easily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the best players were unable from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the wicket and adjusting appropriately. The top two individual innings were made by acknowledged stars. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the supporters who have endured a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the MCG, thousands made noise and sang their songs, fostering a festive mood in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the fielding side dominated, impetus when players fought back, and rapturous celebration when the victory was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has form with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a match there featured a pitch with the character of a a damp squib.
That match was a slog, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that slow Test are polar opposites of the range – one is not more the standard, yet significance can be attached to them.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the death of the long game at all," commented a former player. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these short time have been given some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this match, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The squad responded for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his persona.
New faces stepped up with crucial roles. These are small positives, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a starting point to use as a platform.
At the very least, this triumph is added to other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the fans left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team congregated on the outfield to begin their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, men. This victory was hard-fought.
