Within a display cabinet on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a vibrant pink ensemble donned by the entertainer. His show in front of 100,024 attendees was hailed as a triumph.
You might not like the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, conceding that some tracks are excellent while others are poor.
The central idea is that entertainment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to produce music or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on conditions.
The climate, the hour of play, the red ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the pitch.
If the format is art, the pitch is the canvas on which the cricketers create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport dismantled and stuck back together in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the wicket which resulted in a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Having 10mm of grass on the wicket, resulting in a cascade of wickets being taken in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, a long history and counting. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball moves excessively for the fast men. Other times, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting due to the investment committed in other matches.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Certain variables are accepted more easily than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the best players were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the conditions and responding appropriately. The two highest individual scores were made by world-class batters. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the fans who have endured a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the stadium, a sea of people celebrated and sang their songs, producing a party atmosphere in a heartland of national pride.
There was optimism as the bowlers surged, advantage when players responded, and unconditional love when the victory was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with difficult wickets. Previously, a Test there featured a pitch with the character of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a grind, with limited drama and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – one is not more the standard, yet significance can be ascribed to each.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the memory.
"Far from being the death of the format at all," commented a former player. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been experienced some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this Test, the leader spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.
The players responded for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Different players delivered with crucial roles. These are baby steps, hardly enough to ensure long-term success, but a foundation to develop from.
Ultimately, this MCG win takes its place among other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans slipped away into a beautiful night, the players congregated on the field to start their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, men. It's well deserved.
