In a display cabinet on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a neon pink suit worn by the entertainer. His show in front of 100,024 fans was considered a success.
You might not appreciate the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. You might take a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some songs are excellent while others are awful.
The central idea is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to create music or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on the environment.
The weather, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the wicket.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the canvas on which the players craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the pitch which resulted in a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Having excessive grass on the wicket, resulting in a cascade of wickets being taken in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The long game is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and still growing. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it turns square on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are even more exciting due to the patience made during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The True Test
Specific conditions are accepted more readily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the contest was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the best players were unable from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the situation and responding appropriately. The top two individual contributions were made by world-class batters. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the fans who have suffered a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the MCG, a sea of people celebrated and sang their songs, fostering a festive mood in a stronghold of national pride.
There was belief as the fielding side surged, momentum when the top order fought back, and pure joy when the victory was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with pitch problems. Previously, a Test there featured a strip with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a marathon, with minimal action and slow play. The two-day game and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the range – both are not the standard, yet value can be ascribed to each.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the memory.
"It's not the death of Test cricket at all," said a veteran. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these short time have been given some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this Test, the skipper talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The squad protected him, bringing back the smile to his countenance.
New faces stepped up with crucial roles. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to secure long-term futures, but something to build on.
At the very least, this MCG win takes its place among other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd left into a beautiful night, the players gathered on the outfield to begin their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, men. You've earned this one.
