Displayed inside a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a vibrant pink ensemble worn by the entertainer. His concert in front of a massive crowd of attendees was seen as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't enjoy his music. You might think he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. You might take a reasonable stance, conceding that some tracks are excellent while others are awful.
The central idea is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to craft art or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by conditions.
The weather, the time of day, the ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the pitch.
If the long game is art, the pitch is the foundation on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport broken apart and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
This is not a endorsement of the surface which produced a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Allowing excessive grass on the pitch, resulting in a cascade of wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a varied portfolio, a long history and still growing. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are particularly captivating due to the patience devoted during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are embraced more readily than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the balance was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the best players were hindered from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the situation and responding appropriately. The best individual scores were made by recognized stars. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the supporters who have endured a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the stadium, a sea of people waved their flags and chanted, generating a party atmosphere in a stronghold of sport.
There was optimism as the fielding side excelled, advantage when players fought back, and unconditional love when the result was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a match there featured a strip with all the life of a a non-event.
That contest was a marathon, with few wickets and slow play. This recent match and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the scale – both are not ideal, yet historical weight can be found in them.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the memory.
"It's not the demise of the long game at all," observed a veteran. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been experienced some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The team protected him, reinstating the smile to his countenance.
Emerging talents performed with crucial roles. These are small positives, hardly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a starting point to develop from.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory joins other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters departed into a stunning sunset, the team assembled on the field to begin their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
