Within a showcase on the third floor of the MCG is housed a vibrant pink suit performed in by the entertainer. His show in front of a hundred thousand spectators was hailed as a triumph.
It's possible you appreciate his music. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, admitting that some tracks are excellent while others are awful.
The key argument is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no one way to produce literature or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by external factors.
The elements, the hour of play, the red ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the pitch.
If the long game is a form of art, the wicket is the foundation on which the players create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the established format taken to pieces and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the surface which yielded a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Allowing a thick layer on the wicket, causing 36 wickets being taken in less than two days, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and counting. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball moves excessively for the fast men. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are even more exciting because of the time committed in other matches.
Adaptation: The True Test
Certain variables are embraced more readily than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the top batters were unable from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about finding solutions – assessing the wicket and adapting effectively. The two highest individual contributions were made by recognized players. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the fans who have endured years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the stadium, countless fans waved their flags and chanted, fostering a carnival vibe in a bastion of sport.
There was optimism as the fielding side dominated, advantage when batters fought back, and pure joy when the win was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with pitch problems. In the past, a match there featured a wicket with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a grind, with limited drama and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that slow Test are extreme ends of the spectrum – both are not ideal, yet historical weight can be attached to them.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the memory.
"It's not the end of the format at all," observed a former player. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been treated to some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The team delivered for him, bringing back the smile to his face.
Different players stepped up with vital performances. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to ensure long-term stability, but something to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this MCG win joins other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans left into a stunning sunset, the players gathered on the outfield to begin their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, lads. You've earned this one.
