In a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the MCG rests a vibrant pink ensemble donned by the entertainer. The concert in front of a hundred thousand fans was considered a success.
It's possible you appreciate the performer. You might think he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a middle ground, conceding that some hits are fantastic while others are terrible.
The central idea is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to create literature or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by external factors.
The climate, the time of day, the ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the wicket.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the blank slate on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the established format dismantled and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
This is not a endorsement of the surface which produced a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Having a thick layer on the wicket, resulting in numerous dismissals tumbling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a diverse canvas, a long history and ongoing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. Other times, it grips and turns on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting because of the investment devoted in other matches.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are embraced more easily than others.
The contention in during the match was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the top batters were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the wicket and responding effectively. The top two individual scores were made by acknowledged players. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the supporters who have endured 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the MCG, a sea of people waved their flags and chanted, fostering a festive mood in a heartland of national pride.
There was optimism as the fielding side dominated, advantage when the top order fought back, and unconditional love when the result was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has a history with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a game there featured a strip with all the life of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a marathon, with limited drama and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that slow Test are extreme ends of the scale – both are not the standard, yet significance can be attached to them.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the end of the format at all," commented a former player. "Fans who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been treated to some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this Test, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The team delivered for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his persona.
New faces delivered with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to secure long-term stability, but a starting point to develop from.
At the very least, this triumph joins other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad gathered on the outfield to start their own festivities.
Savour the moment, men. It's well deserved.
