In a showcase on the third floor of the MCG rests a vibrant pink suit worn by the entertainer. His show in front of 100,024 spectators was considered a success.
You might not like his music. You might think he is the greatest gift to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, admitting that some songs are belting while others are poor.
The central idea is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to produce music or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by the environment.
The climate, the time of day, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the wicket.
If the format is a form of art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the established format taken to pieces and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
This is not a endorsement of the wicket which produced a triumph and the another short match of the contest.
Leaving a thick layer on the wicket, resulting in a cascade of wickets being taken in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The format is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and ongoing. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball does all sorts for the fast men. Other times, it spins sharply on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating owing to the patience devoted in other matches.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Some factors are accepted more easily than others.
The argument in during the match was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the top batters were prevented from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – reading the situation and responding appropriately. The two highest individual contributions were made by world-class batters. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the supporters who have suffered a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the stadium, thousands waved their flags and chanted, generating a party atmosphere in a stronghold of sport.
There was belief as the bowlers excelled, advantage when the top order scored quickly, and unconditional love when the win was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with pitch problems. Previously, a match there featured a wicket with the character of a a non-event.
That fixture was a slog, with limited drama and endless boredom. The two-day game and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the range – neither ideal, yet historical weight can be attached to them.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the death of the format at all," said a past champion. "The people who have been privileged to see these two days have been treated to some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this Test, the skipper talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The squad delivered for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his persona.
Different players delivered with key contributions. These are small positives, hardly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a starting point to use as a platform.
In the end, this triumph joins other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad assembled on the outfield to commence their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
