In a display cabinet on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a electric pink ensemble worn by the entertainer. His performance in front of a massive crowd of attendees was considered a success.
You might not appreciate the performer. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music in history. Or you could adopt a middle ground, admitting that some songs are fantastic while others are awful.
The point being is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to craft art or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on the environment.
The weather, the session, the red ball – the list is endless. Most important is the playing surface.
If the long game is art, the strip is the canvas on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport broken apart and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
This is not a justification of the surface which yielded a triumph and the another short match of the series.
Having 10mm of grass on the surface, leading to a cascade of wickets falling in less than two days, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The format is a rich tapestry, a long history and ongoing. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling owing to the investment committed during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Some factors are accepted more readily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the best players were unable from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the conditions and responding appropriately. The two highest individual contributions were made by world-class stars. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the fans who have suffered years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the stadium, thousands waved their flags and created an atmosphere, generating a party atmosphere in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the fielding side dominated, momentum when the top order scored quickly, and unconditional love when the win was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has a history with difficult wickets. Previously, a game there featured a wicket with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a slog, with limited drama and endless boredom. This recent match and that slow Test are extreme ends of the scale – one is not more the standard, yet historical weight can be attached to them.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the memory.
"This isn't the death of the long game at all," observed a veteran. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been treated to some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The players responded for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his face.
Emerging talents delivered with vital performances. These are small positives, not nearly enough to ensure long-term stability, but a foundation to develop from.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory is added to other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd left into a stunning sunset, the squad assembled on the field to start their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, boys. It's well deserved.
