In a showcase on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a neon pink outfit performed in by the entertainer. His show in front of a massive crowd of fans was considered a triumph.
It's possible you enjoy the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a middle ground, admitting that some tracks are belting while others are poor.
The central idea is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to produce literature or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by conditions.
The weather, the session, the red ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the playing surface.
If the format is a form of art, the strip is the foundation on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport dismantled and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the pitch which produced a victory and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the pitch, resulting in numerous dismissals being taken in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and still growing. At times, as witnessed recently, the ball does all sorts for the seamers. In contrast, it turns square on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling owing to the investment devoted during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The True Test
Certain variables are tolerated more readily than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the best players were unable from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – assessing the wicket and responding effectively. The two highest individual innings were made by world-class batters. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the fans who have experienced years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the MCG, a sea of people celebrated and created an atmosphere, generating a festive mood in a bastion of national pride.
There was optimism as the fielding side surged, momentum when the top order responded, and unconditional love when the victory was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a strip with the character of a a damp squib.
That contest was a slog, with few wickets and endless boredom. The two-day game and that previous match are extreme ends of the scale – both are not perfect, yet significance can be ascribed to each.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the memory.
"It's not the end of the long game at all," observed a veteran. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been treated to some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this match, the leader talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The squad delivered for him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his face.
Emerging talents stepped up with vital performances. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to ensure long-term futures, but a foundation to build on.
In the end, this MCG win is added to other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters departed into a beautiful night, the players assembled on the field to start their own festivities.
Celebrate the win, boys. You've earned this one.
