Within a showcase on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a vibrant pink outfit worn by the entertainer. His performance in front of a hundred thousand fans was seen as a triumph.
You might not enjoy the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music in history. Or you could adopt a middle ground, admitting that some tracks are fantastic while others are awful.
The key argument is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is not a single method to craft music or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by the environment.
The elements, the hour of play, the ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the playing surface.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the blank slate on which the players paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport broken apart and stuck back together in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the wicket which produced a win and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Leaving a thick layer on the surface, leading to a cascade of wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, a long history and counting. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are even more exciting owing to the patience devoted in other matches.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are tolerated more freely than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the best players were hindered from showcasing their talents.
The format is about finding solutions – reading the situation and responding effectively. The two highest individual contributions were made by recognized batters. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the fans who have experienced years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the ground, thousands waved their flags and sang their songs, fostering a carnival vibe in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the fielding side surged, advantage when players scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the win was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has form with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a match there featured a pitch with all the life of a a damp squib.
That match was a slog, with limited drama and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that previous match are extreme ends of the range – both are not the standard, yet value can be found in each.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the demise of Test cricket at all," said a veteran. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these short time have been given some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this Test, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The squad protected him, bringing back the smile to his persona.
New faces delivered with crucial roles. These are small positives, hardly enough to secure long-term success, but a foundation to develop from.
At the very least, this MCG win is added to other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd slipped away into a beautiful night, the squad assembled on the outfield to start their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, men. It's well deserved.
