In a showcase on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a electric pink suit performed in by the entertainer. His performance in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a success.
Perhaps you don't like the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Or you could adopt a middle ground, conceding that some tracks are belting while others are poor.
The central idea is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to create art or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon the environment.
The elements, the time of day, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the pitch.
If the format is art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the cricketers create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the great game dismantled and reassembled in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the pitch which resulted in a win and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Leaving excessive grass on the pitch, causing a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, a long history and counting. At times, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Sometimes, it turns square on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling owing to the investment devoted during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The True Test
Certain variables are accepted more readily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the top batters were prevented from showcasing their talents.
The format is about adapting to challenges – assessing the wicket and responding accordingly. The two highest individual scores were made by recognized stars. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the supporters who have experienced years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the stadium, countless fans waved their flags and chanted, fostering a party atmosphere in a stronghold of national pride.
There was belief as the attack dominated, advantage when the top order responded, and unconditional love when the result was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has form with pitch problems. In the past, a match there featured a strip with the character of a a damp squib.
That match was a grind, with few wickets and endless boredom. This recent match and that previous match are extreme ends of the range – one is not more the standard, yet historical weight can be found in each.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the demise of the format at all," said a veteran. "The people who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been experienced some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The team responded for him, restoring the smile to his persona.
Emerging talents delivered with key contributions. These are baby steps, hardly enough to secure long-term success, but a foundation to develop from.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory is added to other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters slipped away into a beautiful night, the team assembled on the turf to commence their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, men. It's well deserved.
