Displayed inside a display cabinet on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a vibrant pink suit performed in by the entertainer. His show in front of 100,024 spectators was considered a major hit.
It's possible you like his music. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. You might take a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some hits are fantastic while others are awful.
The key argument is that entertainment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is no one way to craft literature or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on conditions.
The elements, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the wicket.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the cricketers create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport dismantled and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the pitch which yielded a triumph and the another short match of the contest.
Leaving excessive grass on the surface, leading to a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The format is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and counting. At times, as witnessed recently, the ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Other times, it spins sharply on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are particularly captivating due to the time committed in other matches.
Adjustment: The True Test
Certain variables are accepted more readily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the best players were hindered from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the conditions and adapting accordingly. The top two individual contributions were made by recognized players. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Go and inform the fans who have experienced a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the MCG, countless fans celebrated and created an atmosphere, fostering a carnival vibe in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the attack surged, momentum when players fought back, and rapturous celebration when the win was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with pitch problems. Previously, a match there featured a pitch with the character of a a damp squib.
That contest was a marathon, with minimal action and interminable tedium. This recent match and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the range – neither the standard, yet historical weight can be found in each.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the memory.
"This isn't the death of the long game at all," commented a veteran. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been treated to some real entertainment. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The squad delivered for him, restoring the joy to his countenance.
Emerging talents delivered with crucial roles. These are baby steps, hardly enough to ensure long-term stability, but something to develop from.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory joins other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players gathered on the turf to begin their own festivities.
Savour the moment, lads. It's well deserved.
