Displayed inside a glass case on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a neon pink suit donned by the entertainer. The performance in front of a massive crowd of attendees was considered a triumph.
It's possible you like the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, conceding that some hits are excellent while others are poor.
The point being is that amusement can take many forms. You like what you like. There is not a single method to craft literature or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by external factors.
The elements, the time of day, the red ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the pitch.
If the long game is art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the great game dismantled and stuck back together in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the pitch which resulted in a triumph and the another short match of the contest.
Having a thick layer on the wicket, resulting in numerous dismissals falling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and ongoing. At times, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are particularly captivating owing to the time devoted during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are tolerated more easily than others.
The debate in during the match was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the best players were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the situation and adapting appropriately. The two highest individual scores were made by world-class batters. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the devotees who have suffered 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the MCG, thousands made noise and sang their songs, producing a festive mood in a bastion of sport.
There was hope as the bowlers dominated, advantage when batters responded, and pure joy when the win was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a strip with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a grind, with minimal action and endless boredom. The two-day game and that previous match are extreme ends of the spectrum – neither the standard, yet value can be ascribed to both.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the history books.
"This isn't the death of the format at all," commented a veteran. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been treated to some genuine drama. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this match, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The team responded for him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his persona.
Emerging talents delivered with key contributions. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to ensure long-term futures, but something to build on.
Ultimately, this triumph joins other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd left into a beautiful night, the team assembled on the turf to start their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, men. You've earned this one.
