Displayed inside a showcase on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a electric pink suit worn by the entertainer. His concert in front of a massive crowd of fans was considered a major hit.
Perhaps you don't appreciate his music. You might think he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, acknowledging that some songs are belting while others are terrible.
The key argument is that amusement can take many forms. You like what you like. There is no one way to create art or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on conditions.
The weather, the time of day, the ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the wicket.
If the format is a form of art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the great game dismantled and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
This is not a justification of the pitch which yielded a victory and the another short match of the series.
Having excessive grass on the pitch, causing numerous dismissals tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and still growing. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. In contrast, it turns square on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling because of the time made in other matches.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Some factors are accepted more easily than others.
The argument in during the match was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the top batters were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the situation and adapting effectively. The best individual innings were made by acknowledged players. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Try telling the fans who have experienced years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the MCG, a sea of people waved their flags and created an atmosphere, generating a carnival vibe in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the attack surged, advantage when batters scored quickly, and pure joy when the victory was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has form with pitch problems. Previously, a match there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a non-event.
That fixture was a slog, with minimal action and slow play. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the range – neither ideal, yet historical weight can be attached to them.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the memory.
"This isn't the death of the format at all," said a former player. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been given some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this match, the skipper talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The team protected him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his face.
New faces stepped up with vital performances. These are small positives, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a foundation to build on.
In the end, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters left into a stunning sunset, the players congregated on the field to start their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, boys. You've earned this one.
