Displayed inside a showcase on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a electric pink ensemble performed in by the entertainer. His performance in front of a hundred thousand fans was considered a triumph.
It's possible you like his music. You might think he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, admitting that some tracks are excellent while others are poor.
The key argument is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to craft art or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by conditions.
The climate, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the pitch.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the foundation on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport taken to pieces and stuck back together in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the wicket which yielded a win and the another short match of the contest.
Allowing a thick layer on the pitch, causing 36 wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a varied portfolio, a long history and ongoing. At times, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it turns square on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are even more exciting because of the time committed in other matches.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Certain variables are tolerated more freely than others.
The argument in during the match was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the best players were prevented from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the conditions and adjusting effectively. The two highest individual innings were made by world-class stars. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the devotees who have suffered a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the ground, countless fans celebrated and created an atmosphere, producing a festive mood in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the fielding side excelled, impetus when the top order scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the win was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with difficult wickets. In the past, a Test there featured a strip with the character of a a non-event.
That contest was a slog, with minimal action and interminable tedium. This recent match and that previous match are polar opposites of the spectrum – one is not more ideal, yet historical weight can be ascribed to both.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the death of Test cricket at all," said a former player. "The people who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been experienced some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this match, the captain talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The team protected him, reinstating the smile to his persona.
Different players performed with vital performances. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to ensure long-term success, but a foundation to develop from.
In the end, this Melbourne victory is added to other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd left into a beautiful night, the team congregated on the outfield to commence their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, men. It's well deserved.
