Within a glass case on the third floor of the MCG is housed a vibrant pink ensemble donned by the entertainer. The show in front of a hundred thousand spectators was hailed as a major hit.
It's possible you enjoy the performer. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some tracks are excellent while others are poor.
The point being is that amusement can take many forms. You like what you like. There is no one way to craft music or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon the environment.
The weather, the time of day, the ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is art, the strip is the foundation on which the cricketers create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport dismantled and reconstructed in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the wicket which resulted in a victory and the another short match of the series.
Leaving a thick layer on the pitch, causing 36 wickets falling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and counting. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball moves excessively for the fast men. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are even more exciting due to the time devoted elsewhere.
Adjustment: The True Test
Specific conditions are accepted more readily than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the balance was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the top batters were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about problem solving – reading the conditions and adjusting accordingly. The two highest individual scores were made by recognized players. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the supporters who have endured a long drought that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the MCG, a sea of people celebrated and chanted, fostering a carnival vibe in a stronghold of national pride.
There was hope as the fielding side surged, momentum when the top order responded, and pure joy when the result was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a slog, with limited drama and endless boredom. This recent match and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the range – neither the standard, yet historical weight can be ascribed to them.
At this stage into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the memory.
"Far from being the end of Test cricket at all," commented a veteran. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been experienced some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this Test, the captain talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The team protected him, reinstating the smile to his face.
Emerging talents stepped up with key contributions. These are small positives, certainly not enough to ensure long-term stability, but a starting point to use as a platform.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory joins other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team congregated on the turf to begin their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, lads. It's well deserved.
