Displayed inside a glass case on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a electric pink suit donned by the entertainer. The performance in front of 100,024 fans was hailed as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't like his music. You might think he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a balanced view, conceding that some songs are belting while others are awful.
The central idea is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no one way to craft art or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by conditions.
The climate, the session, the ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the wicket.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the canvas on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the wicket which resulted in a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Leaving a thick layer on the surface, resulting in numerous dismissals falling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The format is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and counting. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. In contrast, it turns square on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The close matches are particularly captivating due to the investment devoted elsewhere.
Adaptation: The True Test
Specific conditions are tolerated more readily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about adapting to challenges – assessing the situation and responding appropriately. The best individual innings were made by recognized players. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the devotees who have suffered a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the ground, a sea of people waved their flags and created an atmosphere, fostering a carnival vibe in a bastion of sport.
There was optimism as the bowlers surged, impetus when the top order fought back, and pure joy when the win was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with controversial surfaces. Previously, a Test there featured a wicket with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a grind, with few wickets and slow play. This recent match and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the scale – both are not ideal, yet significance can be ascribed to them.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the history books.
"This isn't the end of the long game at all," said a former player. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been experienced some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this Test, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The players responded for him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Emerging talents performed with key contributions. These are small positives, not nearly enough to secure long-term futures, but something to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd left into a beautiful night, the squad congregated on the outfield to begin their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, lads. You've earned this one.
