Displayed inside a display cabinet on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a electric pink suit donned by the entertainer. The show in front of a hundred thousand fans was seen as a success.
You might not like his music. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music in history. You might take a middle ground, conceding that some songs are excellent while others are poor.
The key argument is that enjoyment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to create art or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon the environment.
The climate, the time of day, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Above all is the playing surface.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the canvas on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the great game broken apart and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
This is not a endorsement of the wicket which produced a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Having a thick layer on the wicket, causing numerous dismissals being taken in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is incorrect.
The format is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and still growing. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. Other times, it spins sharply on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling because of the patience made during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The True Test
Some factors are embraced more freely than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the top batters were prevented from playing their natural game.
The format is about problem solving – reading the wicket and responding effectively. The two highest individual contributions were made by acknowledged stars. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the devotees who have endured 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the stadium, thousands celebrated and created an atmosphere, generating a party atmosphere in a bastion of national pride.
There was optimism as the bowlers excelled, impetus when the top order fought back, and unconditional love when the result was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has form with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a game there featured a strip with the character of a a non-event.
That match was a grind, with minimal action and interminable tedium. This recent match and that slow Test are polar opposites of the range – neither ideal, yet value can be attached to them.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the history books.
"This isn't the demise of Test cricket at all," said a former player. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been experienced some real entertainment. A unique show."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this match, the captain talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The squad responded for him, reinstating the joy to his persona.
Emerging talents delivered with key contributions. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to ensure long-term success, but a starting point to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this triumph joins other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd left into a stunning sunset, the players gathered on the outfield to begin their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, men. You've earned this one.
