In a glass case on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a neon pink suit donned by the entertainer. His concert in front of a hundred thousand spectators was seen as a success.
It's possible you enjoy his music. You might think he is the ultimate present to music known to man. You might take a balanced view, admitting that some songs are excellent while others are terrible.
The point being is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to produce literature or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by the environment.
The climate, the session, the ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the wicket.
If the format is art, the pitch is the canvas on which the cricketers create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the great game broken apart and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
This is not a justification of the wicket which resulted in a victory and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Leaving excessive grass on the pitch, leading to a cascade of wickets being taken in less than two days, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is incorrect.
The format is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and still growing. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Other times, it grips and turns on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting due to the time made in other matches.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Some factors are accepted more easily than others.
The contention in during the match was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the best players were unable from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the wicket and adapting appropriately. The top two individual innings were made by acknowledged stars. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the devotees who have suffered 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the MCG, countless fans waved their flags and sang their songs, fostering a carnival vibe in a heartland of sport.
There was hope as the bowlers surged, impetus when players scored quickly, and unconditional love when the result was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with pitch problems. In the past, a match there featured a wicket with the character of a a damp squib.
That match was a slog, with few wickets and interminable tedium. This recent match and that slow Test are polar opposites of the spectrum – neither perfect, yet historical weight can be ascribed to each.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the death of Test cricket at all," said a veteran. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these short time have been experienced some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this Test, the leader talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The players protected him, restoring the smile to his countenance.
Emerging talents performed with crucial roles. These are small positives, not nearly enough to secure long-term success, but something to build on.
At the very least, this MCG win takes its place among other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players assembled on the field to start their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
