Within a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a neon pink outfit performed in by the entertainer. His concert in front of a massive crowd of spectators was seen as a triumph.
It's possible you enjoy the performer. You might think he is the greatest gift to music known to man. You might take a balanced view, conceding that some songs are fantastic while others are terrible.
The central idea is that amusement can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is not a single method to craft music or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon external factors.
The climate, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the established format dismantled and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the wicket which resulted in a victory and the another short match of the contest.
Having 10mm of grass on the wicket, leading to numerous dismissals being taken in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The long game is a diverse canvas, a long history and counting. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting due to the investment made during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Some factors are accepted more readily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the best players were unable from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about problem solving – reading the wicket and responding appropriately. The two highest individual contributions were made by acknowledged batters. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the devotees who have endured a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the MCG, thousands made noise and sang their songs, fostering a festive mood in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the fielding side dominated, advantage when batters fought back, and pure joy when the win was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with difficult wickets. Previously, a Test there featured a strip with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a marathon, with limited drama and slow play. The two-day game and that previous match are extreme ends of the scale – both are not ideal, yet historical weight can be attached to both.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the memory.
"Far from being the demise of the format at all," observed a veteran. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been experienced some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this Test, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The team protected him, restoring the positive demeanor to his persona.
Different players delivered with vital performances. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to ensure long-term success, but something to build on.
Ultimately, this triumph joins other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans slipped away into a stunning sunset, the players congregated on the turf to commence their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, men. This victory was hard-fought.
