Within a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a neon pink suit donned by the entertainer. His show in front of a hundred thousand fans was hailed as a success.
It's possible you like the performer. You might think he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, admitting that some songs are fantastic while others are awful.
The central idea is that entertainment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is not a single method to produce literature or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on conditions.
The elements, the session, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the playing surface.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the blank slate on which the athletes create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the great game taken to pieces and reconstructed in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the surface which yielded a triumph and the another short match of the series.
Leaving a thick layer on the surface, resulting in numerous dismissals being taken in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, a long history and counting. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. In contrast, it turns square on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The close matches are all the more thrilling owing to the investment committed in other matches.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Specific conditions are accepted more freely than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the top batters were unable from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about problem solving – reading the situation and adapting effectively. The best individual scores were made by recognized batters. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the supporters who have suffered years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the stadium, a sea of people waved their flags and sang their songs, fostering a festive mood in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the bowlers surged, advantage when batters responded, and pure joy when the victory was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has form with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a match there featured a wicket with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a marathon, with limited drama and slow play. The latest encounter and that slow Test are polar opposites of the spectrum – neither the standard, yet historical weight can be found in each.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the death of the long game at all," said a former player. "Fans who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been treated to some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The players protected him, restoring the positive demeanor to his face.
New faces performed with key contributions. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term stability, but something to build on.
At the very least, this MCG win joins other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd departed into a stunning sunset, the players gathered on the field to commence their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, men. You've earned this one.
