Displayed inside a glass case on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a neon pink ensemble performed in by the entertainer. His show in front of 100,024 fans was considered a major hit.
It's possible you like his music. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, admitting that some songs are fantastic while others are poor.
The key argument is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to craft literature or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on conditions.
The climate, the session, the ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the playing surface.
If the long game is art, the pitch is the canvas on which the athletes create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the great game taken to pieces and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the wicket which resulted in a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Allowing a thick layer on the pitch, leading to a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The long game is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and counting. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting because of the time devoted in other matches.
Adjustment: The True Test
Some factors are embraced more freely than others.
The contention in during the match was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the situation and adjusting effectively. The two highest individual contributions were made by recognized stars. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Try telling the supporters who have suffered years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the MCG, countless fans celebrated and created an atmosphere, fostering a festive mood in a stronghold of national pride.
There was belief as the fielding side dominated, advantage when the top order scored quickly, and unconditional love when the win was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has a history with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a pitch with all the life of a a damp squib.
That match was a slog, with minimal action and endless boredom. The two-day game and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the scale – neither ideal, yet historical weight can be attached to both.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the history books.
"Far from being the death of the format at all," said a former player. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been experienced some real entertainment. A unique show."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this match, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The players responded for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his persona.
Different players delivered with crucial roles. These are small positives, hardly enough to ensure long-term success, but a starting point to use as a platform.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory is added to other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players gathered on the outfield to commence their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, boys. You've earned this one.
