In a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a neon pink outfit performed in by the entertainer. His performance in front of a massive crowd of fans was seen as a success.
You might not appreciate his music. Maybe you feel he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, conceding that some hits are belting while others are awful.
The key argument is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no one way to produce music or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on external factors.
The elements, the time of day, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the wicket.
If the format is a form of art, the strip is the canvas on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reconstructed in abstract form.
This is not a justification of the wicket which resulted in a victory and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Allowing excessive grass on the pitch, leading to 36 wickets being taken in less than two days, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and still growing. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it turns square on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The close matches are all the more thrilling owing to the time committed in other matches.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are embraced more readily than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the top batters were hindered from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the wicket and responding appropriately. The top two individual scores were made by acknowledged players. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Try telling the supporters who have experienced 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the MCG, a sea of people made noise and created an atmosphere, fostering a carnival vibe in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the attack surged, impetus when players responded, and pure joy when the result was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has form with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a wicket with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a slog, with few wickets and endless boredom. This recent match and that slow Test are extreme ends of the spectrum – neither perfect, yet value can be attached to them.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the history books.
"Far from being the death of the format at all," said a veteran. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been experienced some genuine drama. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this match, the leader spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The team delivered for him, bringing back the smile to his persona.
New faces stepped up with vital performances. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to ensure long-term futures, but a foundation to develop from.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory is added to other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd slipped away into a stunning sunset, the team gathered on the turf to begin their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, boys. It's well deserved.
