Within a showcase on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a vibrant pink ensemble worn by the entertainer. His performance in front of 100,024 attendees was seen as a triumph.
You might not enjoy the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music in history. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, conceding that some songs are belting while others are awful.
The point being is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is not a single method to produce literature or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by external factors.
The elements, the hour of play, the ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the pitch.
If Test cricket is art, the wicket is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the great game broken apart and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the pitch which produced a win and the second two-day Test of the series.
Leaving excessive grass on the pitch, leading to a cascade of wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
The long game is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and still growing. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the fast men. In contrast, it turns square on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating because of the time committed in other matches.
Adjustment: The True Test
Some factors are accepted more freely than others.
The contention in during the match was that the balance was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were hindered from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the wicket and adjusting accordingly. The top two individual scores were made by recognized batters. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Try telling the devotees who have endured years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the ground, countless fans made noise and created an atmosphere, fostering a party atmosphere in a bastion of national pride.
There was optimism as the bowlers excelled, momentum when batters responded, and rapturous celebration when the win was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with difficult wickets. Previously, a Test there featured a wicket with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a grind, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the range – one is not more perfect, yet historical weight can be ascribed to both.
Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the memory.
"It's not the death of Test cricket at all," said a past champion. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these two days have been given some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The players protected him, bringing back the joy to his countenance.
New faces delivered with crucial roles. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to ensure long-term futures, but a starting point to develop from.
In the end, this triumph joins other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters left into a stunning sunset, the players congregated on the outfield to start their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, lads. You've earned this one.
