In a glass case on the elevated floor of the MCG is housed a neon pink ensemble donned by the entertainer. His performance in front of 100,024 spectators was considered a success.
It's possible you enjoy his music. You might think he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. You might take a balanced view, acknowledging that some hits are fantastic while others are poor.
The central idea is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to produce music or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on conditions.
The elements, the time of day, the ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the pitch.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the strip is the canvas on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport broken apart and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the wicket which resulted in a win and the another short match of the series.
Allowing a thick layer on the surface, causing numerous dismissals tumbling in less than two days, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, a long history and ongoing. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The close matches are particularly captivating because of the time committed in other matches.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are embraced more freely than others.
The contention in during the match was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about finding solutions – interpreting the wicket and adapting effectively. The best individual scores were made by recognized players. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the devotees who have experienced a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the stadium, thousands waved their flags and created an atmosphere, fostering a carnival vibe in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the bowlers excelled, advantage when the top order scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the win was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has a history with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a pitch with all the life of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a marathon, with minimal action and slow play. The two-day game and that previous match are polar opposites of the spectrum – neither the standard, yet historical weight can be found in both.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the end of Test cricket at all," commented a former player. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been experienced some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this Test, the leader spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The team protected him, reinstating the joy to his countenance.
Emerging talents delivered with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term futures, but something to build on.
At the very least, this triumph takes its place among other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd slipped away into a stunning sunset, the squad gathered on the turf to commence their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, boys. It's well deserved.
