Displayed inside a showcase on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a vibrant pink suit worn by the entertainer. The concert in front of a hundred thousand fans was considered a triumph.
You might not like the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. You might take a middle ground, conceding that some hits are excellent while others are terrible.
The point being is that enjoyment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is no one way to create art or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by the environment.
The weather, the time of day, the red ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the pitch.
If the long game is art, the wicket is the canvas on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the established format taken to pieces and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the surface which produced a victory and the another short match of the contest.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the pitch, leading to a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and ongoing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting owing to the investment committed in other matches.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Certain variables are embraced more freely than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the best players were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the conditions and responding appropriately. The top two individual innings were made by acknowledged stars. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the fans who have suffered a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the stadium, a sea of people made noise and created an atmosphere, producing a party atmosphere in a bastion of sport.
There was belief as the bowlers excelled, momentum when the top order scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the win was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has form with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a strip with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a slog, with minimal action and endless boredom. The two-day game and that slow Test are polar opposites of the spectrum – neither ideal, yet value can be found in each.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the demise of Test cricket at all," commented a veteran. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been given some real entertainment. A unique show."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this Test, the captain talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The team delivered for him, restoring the joy to his persona.
Emerging talents stepped up with key contributions. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to ensure long-term futures, but a foundation to develop from.
At the very least, this triumph joins other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans departed into a stunning sunset, the players assembled on the outfield to start their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, boys. It's well deserved.
