In a display cabinet on the upper level of the MCG is housed a neon pink suit worn by the entertainer. The performance in front of a massive crowd of spectators was seen as a success.
Perhaps you don't appreciate the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music in history. Or you could adopt a balanced view, admitting that some tracks are fantastic while others are poor.
The central idea is that amusement can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to produce art or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon external factors.
The elements, the hour of play, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the pitch is the canvas on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the pitch which produced a victory and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Allowing a thick layer on the surface, leading to 36 wickets being taken in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is mistaken.
The long game is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and ongoing. At times, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are all the more thrilling because of the patience made in other matches.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are tolerated more easily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the contest was tipped too far towards the attack. That the top batters were unable from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about problem solving – assessing the conditions and adapting accordingly. The two highest individual scores were made by recognized players. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the devotees who have experienced years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the MCG, a sea of people waved their flags and created an atmosphere, generating a festive mood in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the attack surged, momentum when batters fought back, and rapturous celebration when the victory was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with controversial surfaces. In the past, a Test there featured a pitch with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a slog, with limited drama and endless boredom. The two-day game and that slow Test are extreme ends of the scale – neither ideal, yet significance can be ascribed to each.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the memory.
"This isn't the end of the long game at all," commented a past champion. "The people who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been given some genuine drama. A unique show."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this match, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The squad protected him, restoring the positive demeanor to his countenance.
New faces delivered with crucial roles. These are small positives, certainly not enough to secure long-term futures, but a foundation to develop from.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory joins other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans left into a stunning sunset, the players assembled on the turf to start their own festivities.
Savour the moment, lads. It's well deserved.
