Within a glass case on the upper level of the MCG rests a electric pink outfit donned by the entertainer. His performance in front of a massive crowd of spectators was considered a triumph.
You might not appreciate his music. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, admitting that some songs are belting while others are poor.
The central idea is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to craft music or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by conditions.
The elements, the time of day, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Most important is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the blank slate on which the players create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the established format dismantled and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
This is not a defence of the pitch which produced a win and the another short match of the contest.
Allowing a thick layer on the surface, leading to a cascade of wickets being taken in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The long game is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and ongoing. At times, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the fast men. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are all the more thrilling owing to the patience made in other matches.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Certain variables are embraced more easily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were hindered from playing their natural game.
The format is about problem solving – reading the situation and adjusting accordingly. The two highest individual contributions were made by recognized players. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the fans who have endured 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the stadium, a sea of people celebrated and sang their songs, producing a party atmosphere in a heartland of sport.
There was optimism as the bowlers dominated, impetus when players scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the result was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has form with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a match there featured a strip with the excitement of a a non-event.
That fixture was a grind, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that slow Test are extreme ends of the scale – neither perfect, yet historical weight can be attached to them.
Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the memory.
"It's not the demise of Test cricket at all," said a former player. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been experienced some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this match, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The team protected him, bringing back the smile to his countenance.
Different players stepped up with vital performances. These are small positives, not nearly enough to secure long-term stability, but a foundation to build on.
Ultimately, this triumph joins other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans slipped away into a stunning sunset, the team assembled on the turf to start their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, boys. It's well deserved.
