In a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a neon pink outfit performed in by the entertainer. The performance in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a triumph.
You might not appreciate his music. You might think he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Or you could adopt a balanced view, admitting that some songs are fantastic while others are poor.
The central idea is that enjoyment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to craft literature or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by the environment.
The weather, the session, the ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the pitch.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the canvas on which the athletes craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the established format dismantled and stuck back together in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the surface which yielded a victory and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Leaving a thick layer on the wicket, resulting in 36 wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is mistaken.
The long game is a rich tapestry, a long history and still growing. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. In contrast, it grips and turns on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling due to the time made during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Some factors are embraced more easily than others.
The argument in during the match was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were unable from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the wicket and responding appropriately. The top two individual contributions were made by acknowledged stars. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the supporters who have suffered 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the MCG, thousands celebrated and chanted, fostering a carnival vibe in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the attack dominated, momentum when batters fought back, and pure joy when the result was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with controversial surfaces. Previously, a game there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a non-event.
That match was a marathon, with minimal action and slow play. This recent match and that slow Test are extreme ends of the spectrum – neither ideal, yet value can be attached to each.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the death of the long game at all," commented a past champion. "Fans who have been privileged to see these short time have been experienced some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.
The team delivered for him, restoring the smile to his countenance.
Different players delivered with vital performances. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to secure long-term futures, but a foundation to use as a platform.
In the end, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad congregated on the outfield to begin their own festivities.
Celebrate the win, lads. You've earned this one.
