In a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the MCG is housed a electric pink ensemble worn by the entertainer. The performance in front of a massive crowd of attendees was seen as a triumph.
Perhaps you don't like the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music known to man. You might take a balanced view, acknowledging that some songs are belting while others are awful.
The central idea is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no one way to craft music or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by the environment.
The climate, the time of day, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Crucially 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 Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport dismantled and reassembled in an unusual manner.
This is not a defence of the surface which yielded a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Having a thick layer on the wicket, causing a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and counting. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the ball moves excessively for the fast men. In contrast, it grips and turns on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are even more exciting because of the investment made during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are accepted more readily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the contest was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the wicket and adapting appropriately. The top two individual scores were made by recognized stars. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Try telling the devotees who have experienced a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the MCG, a sea of people made noise and created an atmosphere, producing a festive mood in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the attack surged, advantage when players responded, and unconditional love when the victory was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with difficult wickets. Previously, a match there featured a wicket with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a marathon, with minimal action and endless boredom. This recent match and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the scale – both are not perfect, yet historical weight can be attached to each.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the memory.
"It's not the end of the long game at all," said a veteran. "The people who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been given some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this match, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The players protected him, reinstating the joy to his face.
Different players delivered with vital performances. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to secure long-term stability, but a starting point to use as a platform.
In the end, this triumph is added to other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans slipped away into a beautiful night, the squad gathered on the outfield to commence their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
