In a glass case on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a vibrant pink suit donned by the entertainer. The performance in front of 100,024 fans was hailed as a triumph.
It's possible you appreciate his music. You might think he is the finest offering to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, admitting that some songs are belting while others are awful.
The point being is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to create music or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by external factors.
The elements, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the pitch.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the blank slate on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the established format dismantled and reconstructed in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the wicket which yielded a triumph and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Having excessive grass on the surface, resulting in numerous dismissals being taken in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The format is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and still growing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it turns square on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are even more exciting owing to the time committed elsewhere.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are accepted more freely than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the contest was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the best players were prevented from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the wicket and adjusting appropriately. The two highest individual innings were made by world-class stars. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the fans who have endured 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the MCG, a sea of people made noise and sang their songs, producing a party atmosphere in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the bowlers excelled, impetus when players responded, and rapturous celebration when the win was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a game there featured a pitch with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a grind, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that previous match are extreme ends of the scale – neither ideal, yet value can be attached to both.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the death of the long game at all," observed a past champion. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these two days have been given some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The players protected him, reinstating the joy to his face.
Different players delivered with crucial roles. These are baby steps, hardly enough to ensure long-term futures, but something to build on.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory is added to other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans departed into a stunning sunset, the team gathered on the outfield to start their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, boys. It's well deserved.