In a showcase on the elevated floor of the MCG rests a electric pink ensemble performed in by the entertainer. The performance in front of a hundred thousand spectators was seen as a success.
You might not enjoy the performer. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, admitting that some songs are belting while others are poor.
The key argument is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to craft literature or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on the environment.
The climate, the session, the ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the wicket.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the foundation on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport broken apart and stuck back together in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the surface which produced a win and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Having 10mm of grass on the surface, resulting in 36 wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and still growing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it turns square on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling owing to the investment committed during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The True Test
Specific conditions are accepted more freely than others.
The contention in during the match was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the wicket and adapting accordingly. The top two individual contributions were made by recognized players. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the supporters who have experienced a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the stadium, a sea of people waved their flags and chanted, producing a carnival vibe in a heartland of sport.
There was belief as the bowlers excelled, advantage when the top order scored quickly, and pure joy when the win was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with difficult wickets. In the past, a game there featured a wicket with the character of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a marathon, with limited drama and endless boredom. The two-day game and that slow Test are extreme ends of the range – one is not more perfect, yet value can be ascribed to them.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the memory.
"Far from being the death of the format at all," observed a former player. "The people who have been privileged to see these short time have been given some genuine drama. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this Test, the captain spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The squad delivered for him, bringing back the joy to his countenance.
Emerging talents delivered with crucial roles. These are small positives, hardly enough to ensure long-term success, but something to build on.
Ultimately, this MCG win is added to other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd slipped away into a stunning sunset, the team assembled on the field to start their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, lads. You've earned this one.
