Within a display cabinet on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a neon pink ensemble worn by the entertainer. His concert in front of a hundred thousand fans 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 middle ground, conceding that some hits are excellent while others are poor.
The central idea is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no one way to produce literature or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by external factors.
The elements, the session, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the playing surface.
If the long game is a form of art, the pitch is the foundation on which the players craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport dismantled and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the surface which yielded a win and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Having excessive grass on the wicket, resulting in numerous dismissals falling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is mistaken.
The format is a varied portfolio, a long history and counting. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are particularly captivating due to the time committed elsewhere.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are embraced more easily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the top batters were unable from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the situation and responding effectively. The two highest individual scores were made by recognized players. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the fans who have endured 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the stadium, countless fans waved their flags and sang their songs, fostering a carnival vibe in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the fielding side excelled, impetus when players fought back, and unconditional love when the victory was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a pitch with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a grind, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – one is not more perfect, yet historical weight can be found in each.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the memory.
"This isn't the demise of the long game at all," said a veteran. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been experienced some genuine drama. A unique show."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this Test, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The players delivered for him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his persona.
Emerging talents delivered with key contributions. These are small positives, hardly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a starting point to build on.
In the end, this Melbourne victory is added to other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans slipped away into a stunning sunset, the players congregated on the turf to commence their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, men. You've earned this one.
