Displayed inside a glass case on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a vibrant pink ensemble worn by the entertainer. His concert in front of a massive crowd of attendees was seen as a triumph.
It's possible you enjoy the performer. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Or you could adopt a balanced view, acknowledging that some songs are excellent while others are poor.
The point being is that amusement can take many forms. You like what you like. There is not a single method to craft art or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on the environment.
The weather, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the wicket.
If the long game is art, the strip is the canvas on which the players craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the great game taken to pieces and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the surface which resulted in a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Having 10mm of grass on the surface, causing numerous dismissals being taken in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The format is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and still growing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Other times, it turns square on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are even more exciting due to the investment devoted during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Certain variables are tolerated more easily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were hindered from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – reading the situation and adjusting appropriately. The two highest individual contributions were made by recognized players. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the fans who have endured a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the MCG, countless fans waved their flags and sang their songs, generating a party atmosphere in a bastion of national pride.
There was optimism as the bowlers excelled, advantage when players responded, and unconditional love when the victory was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a match there featured a strip with the excitement of a a non-event.
That fixture was a marathon, with limited drama and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the range – neither the standard, yet significance can be found in both.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the end of Test cricket at all," said a former player. "The people who have been privileged to see these short time have been given some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this match, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The team delivered for him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his face.
Different players performed with vital performances. These are small positives, not nearly enough to secure long-term success, but a foundation to use as a platform.
In the end, this Melbourne victory joins other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans slipped away into a beautiful night, the squad gathered on the outfield to begin their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, lads. It's well deserved.
