Within a showcase on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a neon pink suit performed in by the entertainer. The concert in front of a hundred thousand spectators was hailed as a triumph.
It's possible you appreciate the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music in history. You might take a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some tracks are belting while others are awful.
The central idea is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to craft literature or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon external factors.
The climate, the hour of play, the red ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the wicket.
If the format is a form of art, the pitch is the foundation on which the players create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport broken apart and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the wicket which yielded a triumph and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Leaving excessive grass on the wicket, causing numerous dismissals falling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and ongoing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. In contrast, it turns square on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating owing to the patience committed in other matches.
Adjustment: The True Test
Specific conditions are embraced more readily than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the contest was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the top batters were unable from showcasing their talents.
The format is about finding solutions – reading the wicket and responding accordingly. The top two individual innings were made by recognized players. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the devotees who have experienced years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the stadium, thousands celebrated and sang their songs, generating a carnival vibe in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the attack surged, impetus when batters fought back, and unconditional love when the win was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has form with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a pitch with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a slog, with limited drama and slow play. This recent match and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the range – neither the standard, yet historical weight can be attached to them.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the death of Test cricket at all," observed a veteran. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these two days have been treated to some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this Test, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The players protected him, bringing back the joy to his persona.
New faces delivered with crucial roles. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to secure long-term stability, but a foundation to build on.
Ultimately, this MCG win takes its place among other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd slipped away into a beautiful night, the players congregated on the outfield to start their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, men. It's well deserved.
