In a glass case on the elevated floor of the MCG rests a vibrant pink suit performed in by the pop star. His concert in front of 100,024 spectators was hailed as a major hit.
You might not appreciate the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, conceding that some songs are fantastic while others are poor.
The central idea is that entertainment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is not a single method to produce art or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on conditions.
The elements, the time of day, the ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the wicket.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the foundation on which the athletes create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport dismantled and stuck back together in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the pitch which produced a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Having a thick layer on the surface, leading to numerous dismissals being taken in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and counting. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The close matches are even more exciting owing to the patience made in other matches.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Certain variables are embraced more readily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the balance was tipped too far towards the attack. That the top batters were prevented from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the wicket and adjusting accordingly. The best individual innings were made by world-class players. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Go and inform the fans who have endured years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the ground, a sea of people celebrated and created an atmosphere, producing a festive mood in a heartland of national pride.
There was hope as the fielding side dominated, impetus when the top order scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the win was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has form with difficult wickets. In the past, a match there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a slog, with few wickets and slow play. The two-day game and that previous match are extreme ends of the spectrum – neither ideal, yet historical weight can be found in each.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the history books.
"This isn't the demise of the long game at all," said a former player. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been treated to some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The team delivered for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his countenance.
New faces delivered with key contributions. These are small positives, hardly enough to secure long-term success, but a starting point to develop from.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory joins other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters slipped away into a stunning sunset, the squad congregated on the turf to start their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
