Displayed inside a glass case on the third floor of the MCG is housed a vibrant pink suit performed in by the entertainer. His performance in front of a hundred thousand spectators was hailed as a triumph.
You might not appreciate his music. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, admitting that some songs are excellent while others are awful.
The point being is that amusement can take many forms. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to produce art or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon conditions.
The climate, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the pitch.
If the format is a form of art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport taken to pieces and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the pitch which yielded a victory and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the pitch, leading to 36 wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and still growing. At times, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball moves excessively for the fast men. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are particularly captivating because of the investment made elsewhere.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Certain variables are accepted more easily than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the contest was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the conditions and adapting appropriately. The top two individual innings were made by acknowledged stars. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the supporters who have suffered a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the stadium, thousands celebrated and sang their songs, producing a party atmosphere in a heartland of sport.
There was belief as the attack excelled, advantage when players responded, and rapturous celebration when the win was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has form with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a game there featured a strip with all the life of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a slog, with few wickets and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the range – neither ideal, yet historical weight can be found in them.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the history books.
"This isn't the death of Test cricket at all," commented a past champion. "The people who have been fortunate to see these short time have been experienced some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this Test, the captain talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The team delivered for him, restoring the smile to his face.
Different players stepped up with vital performances. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term futures, but something to use as a platform.
At the very least, this MCG win takes its place among other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans left into a beautiful night, the squad gathered on the outfield to begin their own festivities.
Savour the moment, boys. You've earned this one.
