Displayed inside a glass case on the third floor of the MCG is housed a electric pink ensemble donned by the entertainer. His show in front of a massive crowd of fans was seen as a success.
It's possible you like the performer. You might think he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a balanced view, admitting that some songs are belting while others are awful.
The key argument is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no one way to produce music or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on conditions.
The climate, the hour of play, the ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is art, the pitch is the canvas on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the great game dismantled and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the pitch which produced a victory and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Allowing a thick layer on the pitch, resulting in 36 wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, a long history and ongoing. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Other times, it turns square on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting owing to the investment devoted during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Some factors are accepted more freely than others.
The argument in during the match was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the best players were hindered from playing their natural game.
The format is about problem solving – reading the situation and adapting appropriately. The two highest individual contributions were made by recognized stars. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the devotees who have suffered 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the MCG, countless fans waved their flags and created an atmosphere, producing a carnival vibe in a bastion of national pride.
There was hope as the bowlers surged, advantage when players scored quickly, and unconditional love when the result was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a match there featured a strip with the excitement of a a non-event.
That fixture was a marathon, with few wickets and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that previous match are extreme ends of the spectrum – one is not more the standard, yet value can be attached to each.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the end of the format at all," said a past champion. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these short time have been experienced some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this match, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The squad delivered for him, restoring the smile to his face.
Different players delivered with vital performances. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term futures, but something to build on.
Ultimately, this MCG win is added to other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd left into a stunning sunset, the players congregated on the outfield to start their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, lads. It's well deserved.
