In a display cabinet on the upper level of the MCG rests a neon pink suit donned by the pop star. His concert in front of a hundred thousand fans was seen as a triumph.
You might not appreciate his music. Maybe you feel he is the finest offering to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, conceding that some songs are excellent while others are poor.
The point being is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to create music or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by conditions.
The weather, the time of day, the ball – the list is endless. Most important is the wicket.
If the format is art, the strip is the blank slate on which the cricketers create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the established format taken to pieces and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the wicket which yielded a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Leaving excessive grass on the wicket, resulting in a cascade of wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The long game is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and ongoing. At times, as witnessed recently, the ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Other times, it grips and turns on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are even more exciting due to the time committed during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The True Test
Some factors are accepted more freely than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the top batters were hindered from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the situation and responding appropriately. The top two individual contributions were made by recognized players. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the fans who have suffered years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the ground, thousands celebrated and chanted, generating a carnival vibe in a heartland of national pride.
There was belief as the fielding side dominated, momentum when the top order scored quickly, and unconditional love when the win was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a game there featured a wicket with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a marathon, with minimal action and slow play. The latest encounter and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – one is not more the standard, yet value can be attached to both.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the memory.
"It's not the death of the format at all," commented a past champion. "Fans who have been privileged to see these short time have been treated to some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The squad delivered for him, restoring the joy to his face.
Different players performed with key contributions. These are small positives, hardly enough to secure long-term futures, but something to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this MCG win joins other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd slipped away into a beautiful night, the squad gathered on the field to begin their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, men. This victory was hard-fought.
