Displayed inside a glass case on the elevated floor of the MCG sits a neon pink ensemble performed in by the pop star. The show in front of a massive crowd of spectators was considered a success.
It's possible you like the performer. You might think he is the finest offering to music in history. Or you could adopt a middle ground, admitting that some tracks are excellent while others are poor.
The point being is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to craft literature or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on external factors.
The elements, the session, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Above all is the playing surface.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the canvas on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the established format dismantled and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
This is not a endorsement of the surface which produced a win and the second two-day Test of the series.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the wicket, leading to numerous dismissals falling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and still growing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it turns square on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are even more exciting owing to the time committed in other matches.
Adaptation: The True Test
Certain variables are embraced more readily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the best players were unable from showcasing their talents.
The format is about problem solving – interpreting the situation and responding effectively. The best individual scores were made by recognized stars. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the fans who have suffered 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the stadium, countless fans celebrated and sang their songs, producing a party atmosphere in a stronghold of national pride.
There was hope as the attack surged, impetus when players responded, and rapturous celebration when the win was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with pitch problems. Previously, a match there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a non-event.
That fixture was a slog, with limited drama and interminable tedium. This recent match and that previous match are polar opposites of the scale – neither perfect, yet significance can be found in each.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the memory.
"Far from being the demise of Test cricket at all," observed a former player. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these short time have been treated to some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The squad delivered for him, reinstating the joy to his countenance.
Different players delivered with crucial roles. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a foundation to use as a platform.
In the end, this MCG win takes its place among other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad congregated on the turf to commence their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, men. You've earned this one.
