Within a showcase on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a neon pink ensemble performed in by the entertainer. The performance in front of 100,024 fans was considered a major hit.
You might not enjoy his music. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, admitting that some songs are fantastic while others are poor.
The key argument is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no one way to create art or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by the environment.
The elements, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the wicket.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the foundation on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the great game taken to pieces and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the pitch which yielded a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the pitch, leading to 36 wickets being taken in less than two days, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a varied portfolio, a long history and counting. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Other times, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting owing to the patience made during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Specific conditions are embraced more easily than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the best players were unable from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the wicket and responding accordingly. The two highest individual scores were made by world-class players. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Try telling the fans who have experienced a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the stadium, countless fans waved their flags and created an atmosphere, generating a festive mood in a stronghold of national pride.
There was belief as the fielding side dominated, momentum when the top order scored quickly, and pure joy when the result was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with pitch problems. In the past, a game there featured a pitch with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a marathon, with limited drama and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that previous match are polar opposites of the range – one is not more ideal, yet significance can be ascribed to both.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the memory.
"Far from being the demise of the format at all," commented a former player. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been treated to some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this match, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The squad responded for him, restoring the smile to his countenance.
New faces delivered with crucial roles. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term success, but something to use as a platform.
At the very least, this triumph joins other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters left into a stunning sunset, the team assembled on the outfield to start their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, men. It's well deserved.
