Displayed inside a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a neon pink outfit worn by the entertainer. His concert in front of a hundred thousand spectators was seen as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't appreciate his music. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Or you could adopt a middle ground, acknowledging that some tracks are fantastic while others are poor.
The central idea is that entertainment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is not a single method to produce art or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon external factors.
The elements, the session, the ball – the list is endless. Most important is the playing surface.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the foundation on which the players craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the established format broken apart and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the wicket which resulted in a victory and the second two-day Test of the series.
Having excessive grass on the surface, leading to numerous dismissals tumbling in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Essence 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 mistaken.
The long game is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and ongoing. At times, as witnessed recently, the ball does all sorts for the seamers. Other times, it turns square on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling owing to the patience committed in other matches.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Specific conditions are embraced more freely than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the contest was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the best players were prevented from showcasing their talents.
The format is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the wicket and adapting effectively. The top two individual contributions were made by world-class stars. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Try telling the devotees who have endured a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the ground, a sea of people waved their flags and sang their songs, fostering a carnival vibe in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the fielding side excelled, impetus when players responded, and pure joy when the result was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with difficult wickets. Previously, a game there featured a pitch with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a marathon, with limited drama and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the range – both are not the standard, yet significance can be found in each.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the memory.
"It's not the demise of the format at all," said a past champion. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these two days have been treated to some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this Test, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The players protected him, restoring the joy to his persona.
Different players performed with crucial roles. These are small positives, hardly enough to ensure long-term futures, but a foundation to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this triumph is added to other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans slipped away into a beautiful night, the squad assembled on the field to commence their own festivities.
Savour the moment, lads. It's well deserved.
