In a glass case on the upper level of the MCG sits a vibrant pink suit performed in by the entertainer. The show in front of 100,024 spectators was seen as a major hit.
It's possible you enjoy the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music in history. You might take a balanced view, conceding that some hits are fantastic while others are poor.
The point being is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to create music or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon conditions.
The weather, the hour of play, the red ball – the list is endless. Above all is the wicket.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the cricketers create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the established format dismantled and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
This is not a defence of the surface which produced a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Leaving excessive grass on the pitch, causing 36 wickets being taken in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and still growing. At times, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The close matches are even more exciting owing to the investment made during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Some factors are accepted more readily than others.
The debate in during the match was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were unable from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about finding solutions – assessing the conditions and responding accordingly. The two highest individual scores were made by acknowledged players. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Go and inform the supporters who have suffered 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the MCG, thousands waved their flags and created an atmosphere, producing a carnival vibe in a stronghold of sport.
There was optimism as the attack dominated, advantage when batters fought back, and rapturous celebration when the result was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a match there featured a wicket with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a marathon, with few wickets and slow play. This recent match and that previous match are polar opposites of the spectrum – one is not more perfect, yet value can be attached to each.
At this stage into the current series, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the history books.
"This isn't the end of the format at all," said a veteran. "The people who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been given some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this match, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The players responded for him, bringing back the joy to his persona.
New faces performed with vital performances. These are small positives, certainly not enough to ensure long-term success, but a foundation to use as a platform.
At the very least, this MCG win joins other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans departed into a beautiful night, the team congregated on the field to commence their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, boys. It's well deserved.
