Within a glass case on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a neon pink suit performed in by the entertainer. His show in front of a hundred thousand spectators was considered a major hit.
You might not appreciate the performer. You might think he is the ultimate present to music in history. You might take a middle ground, acknowledging that some tracks are belting while others are poor.
The central idea is that entertainment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to create music or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by external factors.
The climate, the session, the red ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the wicket.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the foundation on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the great game taken to pieces and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the wicket which produced a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Having 10mm of grass on the wicket, resulting in numerous dismissals being taken in less than two days, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and ongoing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the fast men. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling due to the time committed during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are tolerated more freely than others.
The contention in during the match was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the top batters were unable from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about problem solving – reading the situation and adapting appropriately. The best individual contributions were made by acknowledged batters. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the devotees who have suffered years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the MCG, countless fans made noise and created an atmosphere, generating a party atmosphere in a heartland of sport.
There was belief as the attack dominated, advantage when the top order scored quickly, and unconditional love when the result was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has a history with pitch problems. Previously, a game there featured a strip with all the life of a a damp squib.
That match was a grind, with limited drama and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that previous match are extreme ends of the spectrum – one is not more ideal, yet value can be ascribed to each.
At this stage into the current series, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the history books.
"This isn't the death of the format at all," said a veteran. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these short time have been experienced some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this match, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The players responded for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his countenance.
New faces stepped up with vital performances. These are small positives, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a foundation to develop from.
At the very least, this MCG win joins other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters left into a beautiful night, the squad congregated on the field to begin their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, men. This victory was hard-fought.
