In a glass case on the elevated floor of the MCG sits a neon pink ensemble worn by the entertainer. His performance in front of 100,024 fans was considered a triumph.
Perhaps you don't appreciate his music. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music in history. You might take a balanced view, acknowledging that some tracks are fantastic while others are terrible.
The key argument is that amusement can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to craft literature or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on the environment.
The climate, the session, the red ball – the list is endless. Above all is the pitch.
If the format is a form of art, the wicket is the canvas on which the players create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the established format taken to pieces and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the pitch which yielded a triumph and the second two-day Test of the series.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the pitch, causing a cascade of wickets falling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
The format is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and counting. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball does all sorts for the fast men. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are particularly captivating owing to the patience devoted during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The True Test
Some factors are tolerated more easily than others.
The debate in during the match was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were hindered from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the wicket and responding appropriately. The top two individual innings were made by world-class batters. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the supporters who have suffered years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the ground, thousands waved their flags and chanted, generating a festive mood in a stronghold of sport.
There was optimism as the fielding side surged, advantage when the top order fought back, and pure joy when the win was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has form with controversial surfaces. In the past, a Test there featured a strip with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a grind, with few wickets and slow play. The latest encounter and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – both are not ideal, yet value can be ascribed to both.
At this stage into the current series, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the history books.
"This isn't the demise of the format at all," said a veteran. "The people who have been privileged to see these short time have been experienced some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The team protected him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his persona.
New faces performed with crucial roles. These are baby steps, hardly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a foundation to develop from.
Ultimately, this MCG win joins other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans slipped away into a stunning sunset, the team gathered on the turf to start their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
