Within a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a electric pink ensemble performed in by the entertainer. His performance in front of 100,024 fans was seen as a triumph.
Perhaps you don't appreciate the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Or you could adopt a middle ground, admitting that some hits are fantastic while others are terrible.
The central idea is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no one way to create music or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on conditions.
The elements, the time of day, the red ball – the list is endless. Most important is the pitch.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the canvas on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport broken apart and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the wicket which produced a win and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the pitch, leading to 36 wickets being taken in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
The format is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and counting. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are particularly captivating due to the patience devoted elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Some factors are tolerated more readily than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were hindered from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – reading the wicket and responding effectively. The two highest individual contributions were made by world-class batters. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the fans who have endured years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the stadium, a sea of people celebrated and chanted, producing a festive mood in a bastion of national pride.
There was optimism as the bowlers excelled, momentum when players scored quickly, and unconditional love when the victory was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has form with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a game there featured a strip with the character of a a damp squib.
That contest was a slog, with few wickets and slow play. This recent match and that slow Test are polar opposites of the spectrum – neither the standard, yet significance can be attached to both.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the history books.
"Far from being the death of the format at all," observed a veteran. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been given some real entertainment. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: 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 squad delivered for him, restoring the smile to his face.
New faces performed with vital performances. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a foundation to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this triumph takes its place among other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters slipped away into a stunning sunset, the squad congregated on the outfield to begin their own festivities.
Celebrate the win, men. This victory was hard-fought.
