In a display cabinet on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a vibrant pink suit performed in by the entertainer. His show in front of a hundred thousand attendees was seen as a success.
Perhaps you don't like the performer. You might think he is the finest offering to music known to man. You might take a balanced view, acknowledging that some hits are belting while others are terrible.
The central idea is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to craft art or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on the environment.
The elements, the time of day, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Above all is the wicket.
If the long game is a form of art, the strip is the blank slate on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the established format dismantled and reconstructed in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the pitch which produced a win and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Having a thick layer on the pitch, leading to numerous dismissals tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The long game is a diverse canvas, a long history and still growing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Other times, it turns square on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting due to the patience committed elsewhere.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are embraced more freely than others.
The contention in during the match was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the top batters were prevented from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the situation and adjusting effectively. The two highest individual contributions were made by recognized batters. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Go and inform the supporters who have suffered a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the MCG, thousands celebrated and chanted, generating a carnival vibe in a stronghold of national pride.
There was belief as the attack surged, impetus when batters scored quickly, and unconditional love when the result was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with controversial surfaces. In the past, a match there featured a wicket with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a marathon, with minimal action and slow play. This recent match and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – neither ideal, yet value can be ascribed to each.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the history books.
"This isn't the demise of the format at all," observed a former player. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these two days have been experienced some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this match, the skipper talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The team responded for him, restoring the smile to his persona.
New faces delivered with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to ensure long-term success, but a foundation to build on.
Ultimately, this triumph joins other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd left into a beautiful night, the squad gathered on the outfield to begin their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
