Displayed inside a glass case on the upper level of the MCG is housed a neon pink suit performed in by the entertainer. His concert in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a success.
Perhaps you don't like his music. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music in history. Or you could adopt a middle ground, conceding that some songs are fantastic while others are terrible.
The key argument is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is not a single method to create music or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by the environment.
The climate, the session, the red ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the pitch.
If the format is art, the wicket is the foundation on which the cricketers create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the great game taken to pieces and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
This is not a endorsement of the wicket which yielded a win and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Leaving excessive grass on the wicket, leading to numerous dismissals falling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The format is a diverse canvas, a long history and still growing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball moves excessively for the fast men. Other times, it grips and turns on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating owing to the investment devoted in other matches.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Certain variables are embraced more readily than others.
The debate in during the match was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the attack. That the best players were prevented from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the situation and responding effectively. The best individual innings were made by acknowledged players. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the fans who have endured 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the stadium, countless fans made noise and chanted, generating a carnival vibe in a stronghold of national pride.
There was hope as the fielding side excelled, momentum when batters fought back, and unconditional love when the victory was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with difficult wickets. Previously, a Test there featured a wicket with the character of a a damp squib.
That contest was a marathon, with minimal action and endless boredom. This recent match and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the scale – both are not the standard, yet historical weight can be found in them.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the history books.
"Far from being the end of the long game at all," said a veteran. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these two days have been treated to some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this match, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.
The team responded for him, reinstating the smile to his persona.
New faces performed with vital performances. These are small positives, not nearly enough to secure long-term stability, but a foundation to build on.
Ultimately, this MCG win takes its place among other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd slipped away into a beautiful night, the squad congregated on the turf to start their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
