Displayed inside a glass case on the elevated floor of the MCG is housed a electric pink suit worn by the entertainer. His show in front of 100,024 attendees was hailed as a triumph.
Perhaps you don't enjoy the performer. You might think he is the finest offering to music known to man. Or you could adopt a balanced view, admitting that some tracks are belting while others are awful.
The key argument is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no one way to produce literature or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on external factors.
The climate, the hour of play, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the wicket.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the players craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the great game broken apart and reconstructed in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the pitch which produced a triumph and the another short match of the series.
Having excessive grass on the pitch, causing numerous dismissals tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and counting. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. Other times, it grips and turns on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating due to the investment devoted during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Certain variables are accepted more easily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the best players were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the conditions and responding accordingly. The two highest individual innings were made by acknowledged stars. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the supporters who have suffered 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the stadium, countless fans celebrated and sang their songs, producing a carnival vibe in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the attack surged, advantage when batters fought back, and pure joy when the win was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with controversial surfaces. In the past, a Test there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a non-event.
That fixture was a marathon, with minimal action and endless boredom. This recent match and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the spectrum – neither the standard, yet value can be found in them.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the memory.
"This isn't the end of the format at all," observed a veteran. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these two days have been treated to some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this match, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The squad responded for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his face.
New faces performed with vital performances. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to secure long-term success, but something to develop from.
In the end, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd slipped away into a beautiful night, the players assembled on the turf to begin their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, lads. It's well deserved.
