Within a glass case on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a vibrant pink suit worn by the entertainer. The concert in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a triumph.
You might not enjoy his music. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, admitting that some songs are belting while others are terrible.
The central idea is that entertainment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to create literature or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on the environment.
The elements, the hour of play, the ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the pitch.
If the long game is art, the wicket is the canvas on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport taken to pieces and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
This is not a endorsement of the pitch which yielded a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Having 10mm of grass on the pitch, causing 36 wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, a long history and still growing. At times, as witnessed recently, the ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. In contrast, it turns square on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are particularly captivating because of the time made elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are embraced more easily than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the contest was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the best players were hindered from showcasing their talents.
The format is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the situation and responding accordingly. The best individual scores were made by recognized stars. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Try telling the fans who have suffered years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the MCG, countless fans celebrated and created an atmosphere, fostering a carnival vibe in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the bowlers dominated, advantage when the top order responded, and unconditional love when the victory was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a slog, with minimal action and slow play. The latest encounter and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – both are not the standard, yet historical weight can be ascribed to both.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the history books.
"Far from being the demise of Test cricket at all," said a past champion. "The people who have been privileged to see these short time have been experienced some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this Test, the leader talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The players responded for him, reinstating the smile to his countenance.
New faces stepped up with crucial roles. These are small positives, certainly not enough to secure long-term stability, but a foundation to build on.
In the end, this Melbourne victory joins other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad gathered on the turf to begin their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
