Within a display cabinet on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a vibrant pink outfit performed in by the entertainer. His show in front of a hundred thousand spectators was hailed as a triumph.
Perhaps you don't enjoy the performer. You might think he is the finest offering to music known to man. Or you could adopt a middle ground, admitting that some tracks are excellent while others are terrible.
The point being is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no one way to produce art or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon external factors.
The climate, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the playing surface.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the foundation on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the established format broken apart and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
This is not a endorsement of the pitch which resulted in a victory and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Having 10mm of grass on the wicket, resulting in numerous dismissals tumbling in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is mistaken.
The format is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and ongoing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the fast men. Other times, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are particularly captivating owing to the patience committed during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Specific conditions are tolerated more freely than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the top batters were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about adapting to challenges – assessing the conditions and adjusting appropriately. The best individual innings were made by acknowledged stars. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the devotees who have experienced a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the stadium, a sea of people waved their flags and created an atmosphere, fostering a carnival vibe in a heartland of national pride.
There was optimism as the fielding side surged, impetus when batters scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the win was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with pitch problems. Previously, a Test there featured a strip with the character of a a non-event.
That contest was a slog, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that slow Test are extreme ends of the scale – one is not more the standard, yet significance can be attached to both.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the end of the long game at all," said a veteran. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been given some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this match, the captain talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The team delivered for him, bringing back the joy to his persona.
Emerging talents stepped up with crucial roles. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a foundation to use as a platform.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory is added to other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters departed into a beautiful night, the team assembled on the field to commence their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, boys. You've earned this one.
