Displayed inside a display cabinet on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a electric pink ensemble performed in by the entertainer. His show in front of a massive crowd of spectators was seen as a success.
It's possible you appreciate his music. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music in history. You might take a middle ground, admitting that some songs are belting while others are poor.
The central idea is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to create literature or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon the environment.
The elements, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the playing surface.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the canvas on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the great game dismantled and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the pitch which produced a win and the second two-day Test of the series.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the surface, causing numerous dismissals tumbling in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The long game is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and counting. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting due to the patience devoted in other matches.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Some factors are embraced more freely than others.
The contention in during the match was that the contest was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the best players were unable from showcasing their talents.
The format is about problem solving – interpreting the wicket and adapting accordingly. The two highest individual innings were made by recognized stars. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the supporters who have endured 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the stadium, thousands made noise and chanted, generating a carnival vibe in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the attack dominated, momentum when the top order scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the victory was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has a history with pitch problems. In the past, a match there featured a wicket with the character of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a marathon, with limited drama and endless boredom. The two-day game and that previous match are polar opposites of the scale – one is not more ideal, yet significance can be attached to them.
At this stage into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the demise of the format at all," commented a past champion. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been given some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this match, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The team delivered for him, reinstating the smile to his persona.
New faces performed with vital performances. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term success, but something to build on.
In the end, this MCG win takes its place among other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team congregated on the field to begin their own festivities.
Celebrate the win, lads. You've earned this one.
