Within a showcase on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a neon pink suit donned by the entertainer. His performance in front of 100,024 spectators was seen as a success.
Perhaps you don't like the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a middle ground, conceding that some songs are excellent while others are awful.
The key argument is that entertainment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to create literature or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by the environment.
The weather, the session, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the playing surface.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the established format dismantled and reassembled in an unusual manner.
This is not a endorsement of the wicket which resulted in a win and the another short match of the series.
Having excessive grass on the wicket, resulting in a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and counting. At times, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the seamers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting owing to the time made during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are embraced more easily than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the contest was tipped too far towards the attack. That the top batters were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the wicket and responding effectively. The two highest individual scores were made by recognized stars. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Go and inform the fans who have endured 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the ground, a sea of people waved their flags and created an atmosphere, producing a carnival vibe in a stronghold of national pride.
There was hope as the bowlers dominated, momentum when players fought back, and pure joy when the victory was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with controversial surfaces. Previously, a Test there featured a strip with all the life of a a damp squib.
That contest was a slog, with minimal action and slow play. The latest encounter and that slow Test are polar opposites of the scale – neither the standard, yet value can be ascribed to both.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the history books.
"Far from being the end of the long game at all," said a former player. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been treated to some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this Test, the captain spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.
The squad responded for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his persona.
Different players performed with crucial roles. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to ensure long-term success, but a foundation to develop from.
At the very least, this MCG win takes its place among other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters departed into a stunning sunset, the squad gathered on the outfield to begin their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, men. It's well deserved.
