Within a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the MCG sits a neon pink outfit worn by the entertainer. The performance in front of a massive crowd of attendees was considered a success.
You might not enjoy his music. You might think he is the finest offering to music known to man. You might take a balanced view, admitting that some tracks are excellent while others are poor.
The central idea is that enjoyment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no one way to produce art or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by the environment.
The climate, the time of day, the ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the pitch.
If the long game is art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport broken apart and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the pitch which resulted in a win and the another short match of the series.
Allowing a thick layer on the pitch, resulting in 36 wickets being taken in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and ongoing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling because of the investment committed during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The True Test
Some factors are embraced more readily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the best players were unable from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about finding solutions – reading the situation and adapting effectively. The two highest individual scores were made by world-class batters. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Try telling the fans who have suffered 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the MCG, thousands celebrated and created an atmosphere, producing a carnival vibe in a bastion of national pride.
There was hope as the fielding side surged, advantage when batters scored quickly, and unconditional love when the victory was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a wicket with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a grind, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that previous match are polar opposites of the scale – one is not more perfect, yet value can be found in each.
Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the memory.
"Far from being the end of the format at all," commented a former player. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these two days have been treated to some real entertainment. A unique show."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this match, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The squad protected him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Different players delivered with key contributions. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term success, but a starting point to build on.
In the end, this MCG win takes its place among other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd departed into a stunning sunset, the team assembled on the outfield to commence their own festivities.
Savour the moment, men. It's well deserved.
