In a display cabinet on the upper level of the MCG is housed a electric pink ensemble performed in by the entertainer. The performance in front of a hundred thousand attendees was considered a triumph.
Perhaps you don't enjoy the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a balanced view, admitting that some songs are excellent while others are poor.
The central idea is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no one way to produce music or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by conditions.
The weather, the session, the ball – the list is endless. Most important is the playing surface.
If the format is a form of art, the pitch is the canvas on which the cricketers create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the wicket which resulted in a triumph and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the surface, resulting in 36 wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The format is a varied portfolio, a long history and counting. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Other times, it turns square on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating because of the patience made in other matches.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Certain variables are accepted more freely than others.
The contention in during the match was that the balance was tipped too far towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about problem solving – reading the conditions and adapting effectively. The best individual scores were made by recognized stars. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the fans who have suffered 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the stadium, thousands made noise and chanted, generating a party atmosphere in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the attack dominated, advantage when batters fought back, and pure joy when the win was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a game there featured a wicket with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a marathon, with few wickets and endless boredom. This recent match and that previous match are polar opposites of the spectrum – both are not perfect, yet historical weight can be attached to them.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the death of the format at all," said a former player. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been given some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this Test, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.
The team protected him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his countenance.
New faces delivered with vital performances. These are small positives, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term success, but a foundation to build on.
In the end, this Melbourne victory joins other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans left into a stunning sunset, the squad gathered on the field to start their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, lads. You've earned this one.
