In a glass case on the upper level of the MCG sits a electric pink ensemble performed in by the entertainer. The concert in front of a hundred thousand spectators was hailed as a triumph.
You might not like his music. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a balanced view, admitting that some tracks are excellent while others are awful.
The key argument is that enjoyment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to produce literature or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum 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 time of day, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Above all is the wicket.
If the format is a form of art, the pitch is the canvas on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the great game broken apart and reassembled in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the pitch which resulted in a triumph and the another short match of the contest.
Allowing a thick layer on the pitch, resulting in 36 wickets falling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and counting. At times, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are particularly captivating because of the patience made during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Some factors are accepted more easily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the best players were unable from showcasing their talents.
The format is about adapting to challenges – reading the wicket and adjusting effectively. The best individual innings were made by recognized stars. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Go and inform the fans who have endured a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the ground, a sea of people celebrated and chanted, generating a carnival vibe in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the fielding side dominated, impetus when players responded, and pure joy when the victory was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with controversial surfaces. Previously, a Test there featured a pitch with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a marathon, with minimal action and endless boredom. This recent match and that slow Test are polar opposites of the spectrum – one is not more the standard, yet historical weight can be found in both.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the memory.
"It's not the demise of the long game at all," observed a past champion. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these two days have been given some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this match, the leader spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The players protected him, bringing back the joy to his countenance.
Different players performed with key contributions. These are small positives, hardly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a foundation to develop from.
In the end, this MCG win is added to other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd departed into a stunning sunset, the team congregated on the turf to commence their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, men. You've earned this one.
