In a glass case on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a neon pink suit donned by the entertainer. His show in front of 100,024 attendees was hailed as a success.
Perhaps you don't like the performer. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. You might take a balanced view, acknowledging that some songs are fantastic while others are awful.
The central idea is that amusement can take many forms. You like what you like. There is no one way to craft literature or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by external factors.
The climate, the time of day, the ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the wicket.
If the format is a form of art, the strip is the canvas on which the players craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the great game broken apart and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the pitch which produced a victory and the another short match of the contest.
Allowing a thick layer on the wicket, causing 36 wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, a long history and counting. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting owing to the time made elsewhere.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Some factors are accepted more freely than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the contest was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the best players were unable from playing their natural game.
The format is about problem solving – reading the situation and responding effectively. The best individual scores were made by recognized stars. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the fans who have suffered 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the MCG, countless fans waved their flags and created an atmosphere, fostering a party atmosphere in a heartland of national pride.
There was optimism as the bowlers surged, advantage when players responded, and rapturous celebration when the win was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has a history with pitch problems. In the past, a game there featured a pitch with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a marathon, with minimal action and slow play. This recent match and that previous match are extreme ends of the spectrum – neither the standard, yet historical weight can be ascribed to each.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the death of Test cricket at all," said a former player. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these two days have been experienced some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this Test, the captain spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The players protected him, restoring the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Different players performed with vital performances. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to ensure long-term stability, but a foundation to develop from.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory joins other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd slipped away into a stunning sunset, the players gathered on the field to commence their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, men. This victory was hard-fought.
