Within a glass case on the upper level of the MCG is housed a neon pink ensemble performed in by the entertainer. His show in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a triumph.
It's possible you enjoy the performer. You might think he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, acknowledging that some hits are fantastic while others are awful.
The key argument is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to craft art or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by external factors.
The elements, the session, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the playing surface.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the canvas on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the great game dismantled and reassembled in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the pitch which resulted in a victory and the another short match of the series.
Allowing a thick layer on the pitch, causing numerous dismissals falling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a rich tapestry, a long history and ongoing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the ball does all sorts for the seamers. Other times, it grips and turns on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are particularly captivating owing to the patience made in other matches.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are tolerated more readily than others.
The debate in during the match was that the balance was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the best players were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the wicket and responding appropriately. The best individual scores were made by world-class stars. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Try telling the devotees who have suffered a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the ground, thousands celebrated and sang their songs, fostering a carnival vibe in a bastion of national pride.
There was hope as the attack excelled, advantage when players scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the victory was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with controversial surfaces. In the past, a match there featured a pitch with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a marathon, with limited drama and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the range – one is not more ideal, yet historical weight can be attached to each.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the history books.
"It's not the end of the long game at all," observed a former player. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these two days have been experienced some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this match, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The team protected him, bringing back the joy to his face.
Emerging talents performed with crucial roles. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to ensure long-term futures, but something to use as a platform.
At the very least, this triumph joins other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters left into a beautiful night, the squad congregated on the outfield to start their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, boys. You've earned this one.
