Displayed inside a glass case on the elevated floor of the MCG rests a vibrant pink ensemble worn by the entertainer. His concert in front of 100,024 attendees was considered a major hit.
It's possible you appreciate his music. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Or you could adopt a middle ground, admitting that some hits are belting while others are poor.
The key argument is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to craft music or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by the environment.
The elements, the session, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the pitch.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the canvas on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the great game taken to pieces and reassembled in an unusual manner.
This is not a endorsement of the wicket which yielded a win and the another short match of the contest.
Having excessive grass on the surface, resulting in numerous dismissals falling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and counting. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the ball moves excessively for the fast men. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are particularly captivating owing to the investment committed in other matches.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are accepted more freely than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the best players were unable from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – reading the conditions and responding accordingly. The best individual innings were made by recognized players. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the fans who have experienced a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the stadium, countless fans waved their flags and sang their songs, producing a carnival vibe in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the attack surged, momentum when batters scored quickly, and pure joy when the result was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has a history with controversial surfaces. Previously, a Test there featured a wicket with all the life of a a non-event.
That match was a slog, with minimal action and interminable tedium. This recent match and that slow Test are extreme ends of the scale – both are not ideal, yet historical weight can be ascribed to them.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the death of the format at all," said a past champion. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been experienced some genuine drama. A unique show."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this Test, the captain talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The team delivered for him, restoring the smile to his countenance.
Different players delivered with crucial roles. These are baby steps, hardly enough to guarantee long-term success, but something to use as a platform.
At the very least, this MCG win takes its place among other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team gathered on the turf to start their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, men. It's well deserved.
