Within a glass case on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a neon pink outfit worn by the entertainer. The performance in front of a hundred thousand spectators was hailed as a success.
You might not enjoy the performer. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, acknowledging that some hits are excellent while others are terrible.
The point being is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to produce art or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on the environment.
The climate, the hour of play, the ball – the list is endless. Above all is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the strip is the canvas on which the players create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the established format taken to pieces and stuck back together in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the pitch which resulted in a triumph and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Leaving a thick layer on the surface, leading to a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The format is a rich tapestry, a long history and counting. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are particularly captivating owing to the patience made during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Certain variables are accepted more freely than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the best players were hindered from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – reading the conditions and responding accordingly. The two highest individual scores were made by world-class batters. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the devotees who have experienced 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the MCG, thousands waved their flags and created an atmosphere, generating a festive mood in a heartland of national pride.
There was hope as the bowlers excelled, advantage when the top order responded, and pure joy when the result was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with difficult wickets. Previously, a Test there featured a wicket with all the life of a a damp squib.
That contest was a marathon, with limited drama and interminable tedium. This recent match and that slow Test are polar opposites of the scale – one is not more the standard, yet value can be found in each.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the demise of the format at all," said a veteran. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been given some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The squad protected him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his countenance.
New faces delivered with key contributions. These are baby steps, hardly enough to ensure long-term success, but a starting point to build on.
Ultimately, this triumph is added to other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans left into a beautiful night, the players assembled on the outfield to begin their own festivities.
Savour the moment, lads. You've earned this one.
