Displayed inside a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a electric pink suit worn by the entertainer. His performance in front of 100,024 fans was hailed as a triumph.
Perhaps you don't appreciate his music. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present 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 enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is not a single method to create literature or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by the environment.
The elements, the hour of play, the ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the wicket.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the canvas on which the players craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the established format taken to pieces and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
This is not a defence of the surface which produced a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Leaving excessive grass on the pitch, resulting in a cascade of wickets falling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, a long history and counting. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Other times, it grips and turns on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are particularly captivating owing to the investment committed elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Some factors are embraced more easily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the best players were unable from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the wicket and responding appropriately. The best individual scores were made by world-class players. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the supporters who have suffered years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the ground, a sea of people celebrated and created an atmosphere, generating a carnival vibe in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the fielding side excelled, impetus when batters fought back, and pure joy when the result was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a match there featured a wicket with all the life of a a damp squib.
That match was a grind, with few wickets and slow play. The latest encounter and that slow Test are extreme ends of the spectrum – one is not more perfect, yet historical weight can be ascribed to them.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the memory.
"It's not the death of the format at all," said a veteran. "The people who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been experienced some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The team responded for him, bringing back the joy to his persona.
Emerging talents stepped up with key contributions. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term stability, but something to develop from.
Ultimately, this MCG win joins other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans left into a stunning sunset, the players gathered on the outfield to commence their own festivities.
Savour the moment, boys. It's well deserved.
