Displayed inside a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a neon pink ensemble performed in by the entertainer. His concert in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a success.
It's possible you appreciate the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some songs are excellent while others are awful.
The point being is that entertainment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no one way to produce literature or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon external factors.
The elements, the time of day, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the wicket.
If the long game is art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the athletes create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the great game dismantled and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
This is not a justification of the pitch which resulted in a victory and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Allowing a thick layer on the pitch, resulting in numerous dismissals being taken in less than two days, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
The format is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and still growing. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball moves excessively for the fast men. Other times, it turns square on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling because of the time devoted in other matches.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are tolerated more freely than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the contest was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the best players were hindered from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – assessing the wicket and adapting accordingly. The best individual innings were made by world-class stars. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the supporters who have endured years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the MCG, a sea of people celebrated and created an atmosphere, generating a party atmosphere in a heartland of national pride.
There was belief as the bowlers excelled, advantage when the top order fought back, and unconditional love when the victory was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has a history with difficult wickets. In the past, a match there featured a wicket with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a marathon, with limited drama and slow play. The two-day game and that previous match are polar opposites of the spectrum – both are not ideal, yet significance can be ascribed to both.
At this stage into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the memory.
"Far from being the demise of the long game at all," said a veteran. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been treated to some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this Test, the captain talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The squad responded for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his face.
Emerging talents delivered with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to ensure long-term futures, but a foundation to build on.
In the end, this triumph is added to other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players gathered on the turf to start their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, boys. It's well deserved.
