Displayed inside a glass case on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a vibrant pink suit worn by the entertainer. His concert in front of a massive crowd of fans was considered a success.
You might not appreciate the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, admitting that some songs are fantastic while others are awful.
The key argument is that enjoyment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to craft art or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by the environment.
The elements, the time of day, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the pitch is the canvas on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport broken apart and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the pitch which resulted in a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Having excessive grass on the wicket, leading to numerous dismissals being taken in less than two days, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The format is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and still growing. At times, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are particularly captivating owing to the time committed during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The True Test
Specific conditions are accepted more freely than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were prevented from playing their natural game.
The format is about problem solving – assessing the conditions and adapting effectively. The two highest individual innings were made by world-class batters. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the devotees who have suffered 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the MCG, countless fans celebrated and chanted, fostering a festive mood in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the fielding side dominated, impetus when batters responded, and unconditional love when the result was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with pitch problems. Previously, a game there featured a pitch with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a marathon, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the range – one is not more perfect, yet value can be attached to them.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the memory.
"This isn't the death of the format at all," commented a veteran. "Fans who have been privileged to see these two days have been given some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The squad delivered for him, reinstating the smile to his persona.
Different players performed with key contributions. These are baby steps, hardly enough to ensure long-term success, but a foundation to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this triumph joins other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd slipped away into a beautiful night, the players gathered on the turf to begin their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
