In a showcase on the elevated floor of the MCG sits a vibrant pink outfit performed in by the entertainer. His concert in front of a hundred thousand attendees was seen as a major hit.
You might not like his music. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music in history. You might take a balanced view, admitting that some songs are belting while others are poor.
The point being is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no one way to create music or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on conditions.
The climate, the time of day, the red ball – the list is endless. Above all is the wicket.
If Test cricket is art, the wicket is the canvas on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the established format broken apart and reconstructed in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the pitch which produced a triumph and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Leaving excessive grass on the surface, leading to numerous dismissals tumbling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
The format is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and ongoing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the ball does all sorts for the seamers. Other times, it turns square on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are even more exciting owing to the time devoted elsewhere.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are tolerated more easily than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the conditions and responding appropriately. The two highest individual contributions were made by recognized batters. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the devotees who have endured years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the MCG, thousands waved their flags and chanted, generating a party atmosphere in a bastion of national pride.
There was hope as the fielding side excelled, advantage when the top order responded, and pure joy when the win was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a match there featured a pitch with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a grind, with few wickets and endless boredom. The two-day game and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the range – neither the standard, yet value can be ascribed to each.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the history books.
"This isn't the demise of Test cricket at all," observed a veteran. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been treated to some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The squad delivered for him, restoring the smile to his face.
New faces stepped up with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to ensure long-term success, but something to build on.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory is added to other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans slipped away into a stunning sunset, the team assembled on the outfield to start their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, boys. You've earned this one.
