Within a display cabinet on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a vibrant pink outfit performed in by the entertainer. His concert in front of 100,024 spectators was hailed as a success.
It's possible you appreciate his music. You might think he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, conceding that some songs are excellent while others are terrible.
The point being is that entertainment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to create music or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon the environment.
The weather, the session, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the wicket.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the foundation on which the athletes create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport broken apart and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the surface which produced a victory and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Having a thick layer on the pitch, causing 36 wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and ongoing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Other times, it grips and turns on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are particularly captivating due to the patience devoted during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are embraced more easily than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the best players were unable from playing their natural game.
The format is about adapting to challenges – reading the situation and adapting effectively. The top two individual contributions were made by recognized stars. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the fans who have endured years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the ground, countless fans celebrated and chanted, producing a party atmosphere in a stronghold of sport.
There was belief as the attack excelled, momentum when the top order scored quickly, and pure joy when the victory was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with pitch problems. In the past, a match there featured a wicket with the character of a a non-event.
That match was a marathon, with few wickets and endless boredom. This recent match and that previous match are polar opposites of the spectrum – both are not the standard, yet value can be attached to both.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the memory.
"Far from being the demise of the format at all," commented a veteran. "The people who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been given some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this Test, the leader talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The squad protected him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his persona.
Emerging talents stepped up with key contributions. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to ensure long-term success, but a starting point to build on.
Ultimately, this MCG win takes its place among other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team congregated on the outfield to commence their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, lads. You've earned this one.
