In a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a vibrant pink suit worn by the entertainer. His performance in front of 100,024 fans was hailed as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't like his music. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music known to man. Or you could adopt a balanced view, acknowledging that some tracks are fantastic while others are awful.
The key argument is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no one way to produce music or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on conditions.
The elements, the time of day, the ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the pitch.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the blank slate on which the athletes create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reassembled in an unusual manner.
This is not a justification of the surface which resulted in a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Leaving a thick layer on the wicket, resulting in a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, a long history and still growing. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are even more exciting owing to the patience committed elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Some factors are embraced more easily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were unable from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the conditions and adapting effectively. The top two individual scores were made by acknowledged batters. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the supporters who have experienced years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the ground, a sea of people waved their flags and created an atmosphere, producing a carnival vibe in a stronghold of national pride.
There was belief as the bowlers surged, impetus when the top order responded, and unconditional love when the victory was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has form with difficult wickets. Previously, a match there featured a pitch with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a grind, with minimal action and interminable tedium. This recent match and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the range – neither perfect, yet value can be attached to each.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the history books.
"This isn't the death of the long game at all," said a past champion. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been treated to some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this Test, the captain spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.
The team delivered for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Different players stepped up with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to ensure long-term futures, but a foundation to develop from.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters departed into a beautiful night, the players gathered on the field to begin their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, boys. You've earned this one.
