In a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a vibrant pink ensemble donned by the entertainer. His concert in front of a massive crowd of attendees was seen as a success.
It's possible you enjoy his music. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some songs are belting while others are terrible.
The point being is that amusement can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to craft art or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon conditions.
The weather, the time of day, the ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the strip is the blank slate on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the great game dismantled and reconstructed in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the wicket which yielded a victory and the another short match of the contest.
Having a thick layer on the surface, causing 36 wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, a long history and ongoing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The close matches are particularly captivating due to the patience devoted during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Some factors are embraced more freely than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the best players were unable from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about problem solving – interpreting the wicket and adjusting appropriately. The two highest individual contributions were made by recognized batters. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the devotees who have endured 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the stadium, countless fans made noise and created an atmosphere, generating a carnival vibe in a stronghold of sport.
There was hope as the bowlers excelled, advantage when players responded, and pure joy when the victory was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has a history with controversial surfaces. Previously, a game there featured a pitch with all the life of a a damp squib.
That match was a grind, with limited drama and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that slow Test are polar opposites of the spectrum – neither ideal, yet significance can be ascribed to both.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the history books.
"Far from being the demise of Test cricket at all," observed a past champion. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these short time have been experienced some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The team delivered for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his face.
New faces delivered with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to ensure long-term success, but a starting point to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory joins other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans slipped away into a beautiful night, the squad assembled on the outfield to begin their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, men. This victory was hard-fought.
