Within a glass case on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a electric pink outfit donned by the entertainer. His performance in front of a massive crowd of fans was hailed as a triumph.
You might not appreciate his music. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. You might take a middle ground, acknowledging that some hits are fantastic while others are awful.
The key argument is that entertainment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to produce art or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on conditions.
The weather, the time of day, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the strip is the blank slate on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: 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.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the wicket which produced a win and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Having excessive grass on the pitch, leading to a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, a long history and counting. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Other times, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling owing to the time made 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 balance was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about problem solving – assessing the situation and adapting appropriately. The two highest individual scores were made by acknowledged stars. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the supporters who have suffered a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the MCG, thousands celebrated and created an atmosphere, producing a carnival vibe in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the fielding side excelled, momentum when players fought back, and rapturous celebration when the result was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a strip with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a marathon, with few wickets and interminable tedium. This recent match and that slow Test are polar opposites of the scale – neither perfect, yet historical weight can be attached to both.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the end of the long game at all," commented a former player. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been treated to some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this Test, the skipper talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The team responded for him, restoring the smile to his countenance.
Different players performed with key contributions. These are small positives, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term futures, but something to use as a platform.
At the very least, this MCG win is added to other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters slipped away into a stunning sunset, the players gathered on the outfield to commence their own festivities.
Savour the moment, lads. It's well deserved.
