Within a glass case on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a neon pink suit performed in by the entertainer. His concert in front of a massive crowd of spectators was considered a major hit.
It's possible you like his music. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, acknowledging that some songs are fantastic while others are terrible.
The point being is that entertainment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is no one way to create music or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on external factors.
The elements, the hour of play, the ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the players create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the great game taken to pieces and reassembled in an unusual manner.
This is not a endorsement of the pitch which resulted in a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Having excessive grass on the pitch, causing 36 wickets falling in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and ongoing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the ball does all sorts for the seamers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling because of the investment made during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Certain variables are tolerated more readily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the top batters were unable from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about problem solving – assessing the wicket and responding appropriately. The best individual scores were made by world-class players. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the supporters who have endured 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the MCG, thousands made noise and sang their songs, generating a carnival vibe in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the bowlers surged, impetus when players responded, and unconditional love when the win was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with pitch problems. Previously, a game there featured a pitch with all the life of a a non-event.
That fixture was a slog, with few wickets and endless boredom. The two-day game and that previous match are extreme ends of the scale – one is not more perfect, yet value can be ascribed to them.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the demise of the long game at all," said a past champion. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been treated to some real entertainment. A unique show."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this Test, the skipper talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The players responded for him, reinstating the joy to his face.
New faces delivered with vital performances. These are small positives, hardly enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a starting point to build on.
In the end, this triumph joins other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd slipped away into a beautiful night, the squad assembled on the outfield to start their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
