In a glass case on the upper level of the MCG is housed a vibrant pink outfit donned by the entertainer. The show in front of 100,024 attendees was seen as a triumph.
It's possible you like the performer. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, conceding that some hits are fantastic while others are awful.
The key argument is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to create literature or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by the environment.
The elements, the hour of play, the ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the pitch.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the foundation on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reconstructed in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the wicket which produced a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the wicket, causing numerous dismissals falling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The format is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and counting. At times, as seen at the MCG, the ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. In contrast, it turns square on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting due to the investment made in other matches.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Certain variables are tolerated more freely than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the top batters were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about problem solving – assessing the conditions and responding accordingly. The best individual contributions were made by world-class players. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Go and inform the fans who have experienced a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the stadium, a sea of people made noise and chanted, producing a carnival vibe in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the fielding side excelled, advantage when the top order responded, and unconditional love when the win was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with pitch problems. In the past, a Test there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That match was a marathon, with minimal action and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that previous match are polar opposites of the spectrum – both are not ideal, yet historical weight can be attached to both.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the history books.
"It's not the end of the format at all," said a former player. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been given some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this match, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The squad responded for him, reinstating the smile to his countenance.
Emerging talents delivered with crucial roles. These are small positives, not nearly enough to secure long-term futures, but a foundation to develop from.
In the end, this MCG win joins other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters departed into a stunning sunset, the squad congregated on the outfield to start their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, men. This victory was hard-fought.
