Within a display cabinet on the third floor of the MCG is housed a electric pink suit donned by the entertainer. The concert in front of 100,024 fans was hailed as a triumph.
Perhaps you don't like his music. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, acknowledging that some songs are excellent while others are poor.
The central idea is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to produce literature or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on external factors.
The weather, the time of day, the ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the playing surface.
If the format is art, the pitch is the foundation on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the great game taken to pieces and stuck back together in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the surface which resulted in a triumph and the another short match of the contest.
Allowing excessive grass on the pitch, causing 36 wickets falling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The long game is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and still growing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the seamers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are particularly captivating owing to the time committed elsewhere.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are tolerated more readily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were prevented from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the conditions and adapting effectively. The two highest individual contributions were made by world-class players. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the devotees who have suffered 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the stadium, a sea of people made noise and created an atmosphere, producing a carnival vibe in a heartland of national pride.
There was belief as the bowlers dominated, impetus when batters fought back, and unconditional love when the win was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has form with difficult wickets. In the past, a Test there featured a wicket with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a slog, with few wickets and slow play. This recent match and that previous match are polar opposites of the scale – one is not more ideal, yet historical weight can be ascribed to each.
Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the demise of the format at all," observed a past champion. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been given some genuine drama. A unique show."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this match, the leader spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The team protected him, bringing back the joy to his face.
Emerging talents stepped up with crucial roles. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term stability, but something to build on.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory joins other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players congregated on the field to begin their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, men. It's well deserved.
