Within a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a neon pink suit performed in by the entertainer. His performance in front of a massive crowd of fans was considered a major hit.
Perhaps you don't like his music. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music known to man. You might take a reasonable stance, admitting that some songs are fantastic while others are terrible.
The key argument is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to create art or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on external factors.
The elements, the hour of play, the red ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the wicket.
If the format is art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport broken apart and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the wicket which produced a win and the another short match of the contest.
Leaving a thick layer on the surface, leading to 36 wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The format is a varied portfolio, a long history and counting. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball does all sorts for the fast men. Sometimes, it turns square on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting owing to the time committed elsewhere.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Some factors are accepted more easily than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the balance was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the top batters were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – reading the situation and responding appropriately. The two highest individual scores were made by recognized stars. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Try telling the supporters who have experienced a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the stadium, thousands celebrated and created an atmosphere, generating a carnival vibe in a heartland of sport.
There was belief as the bowlers surged, advantage when the top order fought back, and pure joy when the win was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has a history with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a strip with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a marathon, with few wickets and slow play. This recent match and that previous match are polar opposites of the spectrum – both are not perfect, yet significance can be ascribed to each.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the memory.
"This isn't the death of the format at all," said a former player. "The people who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been treated to some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this Test, the leader talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The players delivered for him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Emerging talents delivered with crucial roles. These are small positives, hardly enough to ensure long-term futures, but something to use as a platform.
At the very least, this MCG win takes its place among other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the fans left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team congregated on the outfield to begin their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, boys. It's well deserved.
