Within a glass case on the elevated floor of the MCG sits a vibrant pink suit donned by the entertainer. The concert in front of a massive crowd of spectators was considered a triumph.
You might not enjoy his music. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a balanced view, admitting that some songs are excellent while others are terrible.
The key argument is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no one way to produce music or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on external factors.
The elements, the time of day, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the pitch.
If the format is a form of art, the pitch is the foundation on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the established format taken to pieces and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the wicket which produced a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Allowing excessive grass on the pitch, resulting in 36 wickets falling in less than two days, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The format is a diverse canvas, a long history and still growing. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are particularly captivating because of the investment made elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Some factors are accepted more readily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the balance was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were hindered from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – assessing the situation and responding effectively. The two highest individual innings were made by world-class batters. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Go and inform the supporters who have experienced years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the stadium, countless fans waved their flags and created an atmosphere, generating a festive mood in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the bowlers surged, momentum when batters scored quickly, and unconditional love when the result was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with pitch problems. In the past, a match there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That match was a grind, with minimal action and slow play. The two-day game and that previous match are extreme ends of the spectrum – neither ideal, yet value can be attached to them.
Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the history books.
"Far from being the death of Test cricket at all," commented a former player. "Fans who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been experienced some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The players responded for him, restoring the joy to his persona.
Emerging talents stepped up with vital performances. These are small positives, hardly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a foundation to use as a platform.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory is added to other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd departed into a stunning sunset, the players gathered on the field to start their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, men. You've earned this one.
