In a glass case on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a neon pink outfit donned by the entertainer. His show in front of a massive crowd of fans was hailed as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't appreciate the performer. You might think he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, acknowledging that some hits are fantastic while others are terrible.
The central idea is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is not a single method to create literature or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon external factors.
The weather, the hour of play, the red ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the wicket.
If the long game is art, the strip is the blank slate on which the players create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the established format taken to pieces and reassembled in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the surface which yielded a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Allowing excessive grass on the wicket, resulting in a cascade of wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
The format is a varied portfolio, a long history and still growing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the ball does all sorts for the fast men. In contrast, it spins sharply on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting because of the patience devoted elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Certain variables are accepted more freely than others.
The argument in during the match was that the balance was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the best players were hindered from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – reading the wicket and responding appropriately. The two highest individual scores were made by acknowledged batters. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the supporters who have experienced 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the stadium, thousands waved their flags and chanted, producing a carnival vibe in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the attack excelled, impetus when the top order responded, and pure joy when the result was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a match there featured a wicket with the character of a a damp squib.
That contest was a grind, with few wickets and endless boredom. This recent match and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the scale – both are not perfect, yet value can be ascribed to them.
At this stage into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the memory.
"It's not the demise of Test cricket at all," said a former player. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these two days have been experienced some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The team responded for him, restoring the smile to his face.
Different players stepped up with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to ensure long-term success, but a starting point to use as a platform.
At the very least, this MCG win is added to other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans left into a stunning sunset, the squad gathered on the field to commence their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
