Within a display cabinet on the third floor of the MCG rests a electric pink suit worn by the entertainer. The performance in front of a massive crowd of attendees was considered a major hit.
Perhaps you don't enjoy his music. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music known to man. You might take a middle ground, admitting that some tracks are belting while others are poor.
The key argument is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no one way to produce art or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on external factors.
The climate, the hour of play, the ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the playing surface.
If the format is a form of art, the wicket is the foundation on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the established format dismantled and stuck back together in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the pitch which yielded a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Allowing excessive grass on the surface, resulting in numerous dismissals tumbling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a diverse canvas, a long history and still growing. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the ball does all sorts for the seamers. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The close matches are even more exciting owing to the patience committed elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Some factors are embraced more readily than others.
The contention in during the match was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the top batters were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the wicket and adjusting accordingly. The best individual scores were made by acknowledged batters. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the fans who have endured a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the stadium, a sea of people celebrated and created an atmosphere, fostering a festive mood in a bastion of sport.
There was hope as the bowlers excelled, advantage when the top order responded, and rapturous celebration when the victory was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has form with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a match there featured a wicket with the character of a a non-event.
That match was a grind, with minimal action and slow play. This recent match and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – both are not ideal, yet value can be attached to each.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the memory.
"Far from being the demise of Test cricket at all," commented a former player. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these two days have been given some real entertainment. A unique show."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this Test, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The players protected him, restoring the smile to his countenance.
Different players delivered with crucial roles. These are small positives, not nearly enough to secure long-term stability, but something to use as a platform.
In the end, this triumph is added to other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd slipped away into a beautiful night, the players assembled on the turf to commence their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, boys. It's well deserved.
