Within a display cabinet on the upper level of the MCG rests a vibrant pink ensemble performed in by the entertainer. His performance in front of a hundred thousand spectators was considered a major hit.
It's possible you like his music. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a middle ground, acknowledging that some tracks are fantastic while others are awful.
The point being is that entertainment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to craft art or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon external factors.
The weather, the time of day, the red ball – the list is endless. Above all is the pitch.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the wicket is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport dismantled and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
This is not a defence of the pitch which produced a triumph and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Allowing excessive grass on the wicket, resulting in numerous dismissals tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The format is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and counting. At times, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the fast men. Other times, it grips and turns on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are even more exciting due to the investment devoted during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The True Test
Certain variables are tolerated more freely than others.
The argument in during the match was that the balance was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the best players were hindered from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the conditions and responding accordingly. The best individual scores were made by world-class players. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the devotees who have suffered years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the ground, countless fans made noise and chanted, producing a party atmosphere in a heartland of national pride.
There was optimism as the bowlers excelled, advantage when the top order responded, and pure joy when the win was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with difficult wickets. In the past, a Test there featured a wicket with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a grind, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the scale – neither ideal, yet significance can be attached to each.
Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the memory.
"Far from being the end of the long game at all," said a veteran. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these short time have been treated to some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this match, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The squad delivered for him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his persona.
New faces performed with vital performances. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to secure long-term futures, but a starting point to use as a platform.
At the very least, this MCG win is added to other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans slipped away into a stunning sunset, the squad assembled on the field to start their own festivities.
Savour the moment, men. This victory was hard-fought.
