Displayed inside a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a vibrant pink outfit donned by the entertainer. His concert in front of a hundred thousand attendees was considered a triumph.
Perhaps you don't enjoy his music. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, conceding that some tracks are fantastic while others are terrible.
The key argument is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no one way to create literature or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon external factors.
The climate, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the wicket.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the pitch is the foundation on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the established format broken apart and reconstructed in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the surface which yielded a victory and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Allowing a thick layer on the wicket, leading to numerous dismissals tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, a long history and still growing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are particularly captivating owing to the time devoted elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Some factors are embraced more easily than others.
The debate in during the match was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were hindered from playing their natural game.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the situation and adapting appropriately. The top two individual innings were made by recognized batters. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the supporters who have endured 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the ground, a sea of people made noise and created an atmosphere, generating a festive mood in a bastion of national pride.
There was hope as the bowlers excelled, momentum when players responded, and pure joy when the victory was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with difficult wickets. Previously, a game there featured a pitch with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a slog, with minimal action and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that slow Test are extreme ends of the scale – neither ideal, yet value can be ascribed to each.
Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the history books.
"This isn't the demise of Test cricket at all," observed a past champion. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these two days have been experienced some genuine drama. A unique show."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this Test, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The players delivered for him, reinstating the joy to his countenance.
Different players delivered with crucial roles. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to secure long-term success, but something to build on.
At the very least, this triumph joins other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans slipped away into a beautiful night, the squad gathered on the turf to commence their own festivities.
Savour the moment, lads. You've earned this one.
