In a showcase on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a vibrant pink outfit donned by the entertainer. The concert in front of a massive crowd of fans was seen as a success.
You might not enjoy the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music in history. Or you could adopt a middle ground, conceding that some tracks are excellent while others are awful.
The point being is that enjoyment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to produce literature or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by external factors.
The elements, the hour of play, the ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the cricketers create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the pitch which resulted in a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Having a thick layer on the surface, causing numerous dismissals tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The long game is a rich tapestry, a long history and ongoing. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Other times, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling due to the investment committed in other matches.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Some factors are embraced more freely than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were hindered from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – assessing the wicket and responding effectively. The two highest individual innings were made by recognized players. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the fans who have experienced years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the stadium, countless fans made noise and sang their songs, producing a festive mood in a heartland of sport.
There was optimism as the attack dominated, impetus when the top order fought back, and unconditional love when the victory was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a match there featured a strip with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That contest was a grind, with limited drama and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the scale – neither the standard, yet historical weight can be found in each.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the history books.
"This isn't the end of the format at all," said a former player. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been experienced some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The team responded for him, bringing back the smile to his face.
Emerging talents delivered with crucial roles. These are small positives, not nearly enough to secure long-term success, but a foundation to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory is added to other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd departed into a beautiful night, the team gathered on the outfield to commence their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, lads. It's well deserved.
