In a glass case on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a electric pink suit performed in by the entertainer. The performance in front of a massive crowd of spectators was considered a success.
Perhaps you don't enjoy the performer. Maybe you feel he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, admitting that some tracks are excellent while others are awful.
The point being is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is not a single method to create literature or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon the environment.
The weather, the hour of play, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the wicket.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the blank slate on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the great game broken apart and reconstructed in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the wicket which produced a victory and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the surface, causing a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The format is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and ongoing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the ball moves excessively for the fast men. Other times, it grips and turns on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The close matches are even more exciting because of the patience devoted elsewhere.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are embraced more easily than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the top batters were unable from showcasing their talents.
The format is about finding solutions – interpreting the situation and adjusting effectively. The top two individual scores were made by acknowledged players. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the fans who have suffered a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the ground, a sea of people celebrated and created an atmosphere, producing a party atmosphere in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the fielding side surged, impetus when players responded, and pure joy when the win was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a game there featured a strip with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a grind, with minimal action and endless boredom. This recent match and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the spectrum – both are not ideal, yet historical weight can be ascribed to each.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the history books.
"This isn't the end of Test cricket at all," said a past champion. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been experienced some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this Test, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The team delivered for him, reinstating the joy to his persona.
New faces stepped up with key contributions. These are small positives, certainly not enough to ensure long-term success, but something to use as a platform.
In the end, this MCG win is added to other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters left into a beautiful night, the players gathered on the turf to start their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
