Displayed inside a glass case on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a vibrant pink outfit worn by the entertainer. The performance in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a triumph.
It's possible you enjoy the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a balanced view, conceding that some hits are fantastic while others are poor.
The point being is that amusement can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is not a single method to produce literature or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by the environment.
The weather, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the pitch is the canvas on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the great game taken to pieces and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the wicket which resulted in a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the wicket, causing 36 wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
The format is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and counting. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it turns square on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are even more exciting due to the time devoted during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Certain variables are embraced more readily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the best players were unable from playing their natural game.
The format is about adapting to challenges – assessing the conditions and adapting effectively. The top two individual scores were made by acknowledged stars. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the fans who have endured a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the MCG, countless fans waved their flags and sang their songs, producing a carnival vibe in a heartland of national pride.
There was belief as the attack surged, impetus when batters fought back, and unconditional love when the win was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with pitch problems. Previously, a game there featured a wicket with all the life of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a slog, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that slow Test are extreme ends of the range – both are not ideal, yet significance can be attached to both.
Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the memory.
"This isn't the demise of Test cricket at all," said a former player. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these short time have been experienced some genuine drama. A unique show."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The team protected him, reinstating the joy to his face.
Different players delivered with vital performances. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a starting point to build on.
At the very least, this MCG win joins other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans slipped away into a stunning sunset, the team gathered on the turf to begin their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, boys. You've earned this one.
