Within a display cabinet on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a vibrant pink ensemble donned by the entertainer. His show in front of a hundred thousand spectators was considered a major hit.
Perhaps you don't like the performer. You might think he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some songs are belting while others are poor.
The key argument is that entertainment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is no one way to craft literature or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon conditions.
The elements, the time of day, the ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the wicket.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the canvas on which the players craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport dismantled and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
This is not a justification of the wicket which resulted in a triumph and the another short match of the series.
Leaving excessive grass on the wicket, causing 36 wickets being taken in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, a long history and still growing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The close matches are even more exciting owing to the time made elsewhere.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Some factors are tolerated more easily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the best players were prevented from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the situation and adjusting accordingly. The best individual innings were made by acknowledged stars. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the fans who have endured a long drought that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the ground, thousands waved their flags and created an atmosphere, producing a carnival vibe in a bastion of national pride.
There was hope as the attack dominated, momentum when the top order fought back, and unconditional love when the victory was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with difficult wickets. Previously, a game there featured a wicket with the character of a a non-event.
That contest was a slog, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the spectrum – neither the standard, yet value can be ascribed to both.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the end of the long game at all," said a veteran. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these short time have been experienced some genuine drama. A unique show."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this Test, the captain spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The squad delivered for him, restoring the smile to his face.
Emerging talents delivered with vital performances. These are small positives, not nearly enough to secure long-term futures, but a foundation to develop from.
In the end, this triumph joins other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad gathered on the outfield to begin their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
