Displayed inside a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a vibrant pink ensemble worn by the entertainer. His performance in front of a hundred thousand fans was considered a triumph.
It's possible you appreciate the performer. Maybe you feel he is the finest offering to music in history. You might take a balanced view, conceding that some tracks are belting while others are awful.
The point being is that entertainment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is not a single method to produce music or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on conditions.
The weather, the session, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the wicket.
If the long game is art, the pitch is the foundation on which the cricketers create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the great game dismantled and reassembled in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the wicket which produced a victory and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Allowing excessive grass on the wicket, leading to a cascade of wickets being taken in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
The format is a diverse canvas, a long history and ongoing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Other times, it turns square on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating owing to the investment made during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Some factors are embraced more readily than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the contest was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the situation and adjusting effectively. The top two individual contributions were made by world-class batters. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Try telling the fans who have suffered a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the MCG, thousands celebrated and sang their songs, fostering a carnival vibe in a bastion of national pride.
There was hope as the attack surged, impetus when players scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the victory was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a game there featured a wicket with all the life of a a damp squib.
That contest was a slog, with minimal action and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the scale – one is not more perfect, yet historical weight can be found in each.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the history books.
"It's not the end of Test cricket at all," observed a former player. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been given some genuine drama. A unique show."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this match, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The squad delivered for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his face.
New faces delivered with vital performances. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to ensure long-term futures, but something to develop from.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters departed into a stunning sunset, the team gathered on the field to begin their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
