Within a display cabinet on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a electric pink ensemble donned by the entertainer. His performance in front of a massive crowd of fans was seen as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't like the performer. You might think he is the finest offering to music in history. You might take a reasonable stance, conceding that some tracks 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 one way to craft art or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on the environment.
The climate, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the pitch.
If the format is art, the wicket is the canvas on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reconstructed in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the pitch which resulted in a win and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the wicket, leading to a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The long game is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and counting. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating because of the time committed in other matches.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Some factors are embraced more readily than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the top batters were hindered from showcasing their talents.
The format is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the conditions and adapting appropriately. The best individual scores were made by recognized stars. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the fans who have endured years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the ground, thousands waved their flags and chanted, producing a carnival vibe in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the bowlers dominated, momentum when batters scored quickly, and unconditional love when the result was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with difficult wickets. In the past, a Test there featured a pitch with all the life of a a damp squib.
That match was a slog, with minimal action and interminable tedium. This recent match and that previous match are extreme ends of the scale – both are not ideal, yet value can be found in both.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the memory.
"This isn't the end of the format at all," commented a former player. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these short time have been experienced some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this Test, the leader talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The squad protected him, restoring the smile to his persona.
Different players performed with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to secure long-term futures, but a foundation to develop from.
In the end, this Melbourne victory joins other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters left into a stunning sunset, the team assembled on the outfield to start their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, men. This victory was hard-fought.
