Displayed inside a display cabinet on the upper level of the MCG sits a neon pink outfit performed in by the entertainer. The concert in front of a hundred thousand fans was hailed as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't enjoy his music. You might think he is the finest offering to music known to man. Or you could adopt a balanced view, acknowledging that some hits are belting while others are terrible.
The point being is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to craft literature or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on the environment.
The climate, the time of day, the red ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the wicket.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the canvas on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the established format taken to pieces and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the surface which resulted in a triumph and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the wicket, leading to 36 wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a rich tapestry, a long history and ongoing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are all the more thrilling due to the patience made during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The True Test
Some factors are tolerated more readily than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the best players were prevented from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the conditions and adjusting effectively. The best individual scores were made by acknowledged batters. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Try telling the fans who have experienced years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the ground, a sea of people made noise and created an atmosphere, fostering a carnival vibe in a stronghold of national pride.
There was hope as the attack surged, momentum when batters responded, and unconditional love when the result was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a strip with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a grind, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the scale – neither perfect, yet significance can be found in them.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the memory.
"It's not the death of the long game at all," observed a veteran. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these short time have been experienced some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this match, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The team responded for him, restoring the smile to his persona.
Emerging talents delivered with crucial roles. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to ensure long-term stability, but a foundation to build on.
Ultimately, this triumph takes its place among other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd left into a beautiful night, the squad assembled on the field to start their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, lads. You've earned this one.
