Displayed inside a showcase on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a neon pink ensemble worn by the entertainer. The show in front of a massive crowd of fans was considered a triumph.
Perhaps you don't appreciate the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music known to man. You might take a reasonable stance, admitting that some songs are excellent while others are terrible.
The key argument is that entertainment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to create music or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on the environment.
The climate, the session, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the playing surface.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the blank slate on which the players create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the established format taken to pieces and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
This is not a justification of the surface which resulted in a win and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the wicket, resulting in 36 wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The format is a varied portfolio, a long history and ongoing. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the fast men. In contrast, it spins sharply on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are particularly captivating due to the patience committed during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The True Test
Specific conditions are embraced more freely than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the top batters were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the situation and adjusting effectively. The two highest individual innings were made by recognized stars. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the devotees who have suffered a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the ground, thousands waved their flags and created an atmosphere, fostering a party atmosphere in a bastion of sport.
There was hope as the fielding side surged, impetus when players scored quickly, and pure joy when the win was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a non-event.
That contest was a grind, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – both are not perfect, yet value can be attached to them.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the memory.
"It's not the end of the format at all," said a past champion. "The people who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been experienced some real entertainment. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this match, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The team protected him, bringing back the joy to his countenance.
New faces stepped up with vital performances. These are small positives, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but something to use as a platform.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd left into a stunning sunset, the team congregated on the turf to commence their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, men. It's well deserved.
