Within a display cabinet on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a neon pink ensemble worn by the entertainer. His concert in front of a hundred thousand spectators was hailed as a major hit.
You might not enjoy his music. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, conceding that some songs are fantastic while others are awful.
The key argument is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no one way to craft music or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon the environment.
The elements, the time of day, the red ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the wicket.
If the format is art, the pitch is the foundation on which the cricketers create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the great game broken apart and stuck back together in abstract form.
This is not a defence of the surface which yielded a win and the another short match of the series.
Leaving a thick layer on the pitch, leading to a cascade of wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The long game is a diverse canvas, a long history and ongoing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are particularly captivating because of the investment devoted elsewhere.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Certain variables are tolerated more readily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the contest was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the best players were prevented from playing their natural game.
The format is about problem solving – reading the wicket and responding appropriately. The best individual innings were made by acknowledged batters. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the fans who have experienced years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the MCG, a sea of people waved their flags and created an atmosphere, fostering a festive mood in a stronghold of national pride.
There was optimism as the bowlers excelled, impetus when the top order scored quickly, and unconditional love when the result was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has a history with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a wicket with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a grind, with few wickets and interminable tedium. This recent match and that slow Test are extreme ends of the spectrum – one is not more ideal, yet historical weight can be ascribed to both.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the demise of the long game at all," commented a veteran. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been given some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this Test, the captain talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The squad responded for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Emerging talents stepped up with vital performances. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a starting point to develop from.
Ultimately, this triumph is added to other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team congregated on the turf to start their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, men. It's well deserved.
