Displayed inside a glass case on the third floor of the MCG rests a electric pink suit worn by the entertainer. His performance in front of a hundred thousand spectators was hailed as a success.
Perhaps you don't appreciate his music. You might think he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, conceding that some hits are excellent while others are terrible.
The point being is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is not a single method to craft literature or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by conditions.
The climate, the time of day, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the wicket.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the blank slate on which the athletes create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the established format taken to pieces and reassembled in abstract form.
This is not a endorsement of the pitch which resulted in a triumph and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Leaving excessive grass on the surface, leading to 36 wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The format is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and counting. At times, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Other times, it turns square on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are even more exciting owing to the time committed elsewhere.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are tolerated more readily than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the best players were hindered from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about problem solving – reading the situation and responding accordingly. The best individual contributions were made by recognized stars. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the devotees who have suffered 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the ground, countless fans celebrated and chanted, producing a festive mood in a bastion of sport.
There was hope as the fielding side surged, impetus when batters scored quickly, and pure joy when the win was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has a history with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a match there featured a pitch with all the life of a a damp squib.
That match was a marathon, with limited drama and endless boredom. This recent match and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the spectrum – both are not ideal, yet significance can be attached to each.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the memory.
"This isn't the end of the format at all," observed a past champion. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been treated to some genuine drama. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this Test, the captain talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The squad protected him, restoring the positive demeanor to his countenance.
New faces stepped up with crucial roles. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a starting point to develop from.
In the end, this MCG win is added to other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players congregated on the turf to start their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, men. It's well deserved.
