Within a showcase on the third floor of the MCG rests a vibrant pink suit donned by the entertainer. His concert in front of a massive crowd of attendees was considered a success.
It's possible you appreciate the performer. You might think he is the greatest gift to music in history. You might take a middle ground, acknowledging that some songs are excellent while others are awful.
The central idea is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to craft literature or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on conditions.
The elements, the session, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the pitch.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the blank slate on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the great game broken apart and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the wicket which resulted in a win and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Having excessive grass on the surface, leading to 36 wickets being taken in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and counting. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Other times, it turns square on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are particularly captivating because of the investment committed during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are embraced more freely than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the conditions and responding accordingly. The two highest individual innings were made by recognized stars. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the devotees who have endured 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the MCG, a sea of people waved their flags and created an atmosphere, producing a carnival vibe in a stronghold of sport.
There was optimism as the attack dominated, advantage when the top order scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the win was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has form with difficult wickets. Previously, a game there featured a strip with the character of a a non-event.
That match was a marathon, with minimal action and endless boredom. The two-day game and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the scale – neither ideal, yet value can be found in both.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the memory.
"It's not the death of Test cricket at all," said a veteran. "Fans who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been experienced some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The squad delivered for him, bringing back the joy to his countenance.
Different players stepped up with key contributions. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to secure long-term stability, but a starting point to develop from.
In the end, this triumph is added to other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players congregated on the outfield to begin their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, men. This victory was hard-fought.
