In a glass case on the elevated floor of the MCG rests a neon pink suit worn by the entertainer. The concert in front of 100,024 attendees was seen as a success.
Perhaps you don't enjoy his music. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music known to man. You might take a reasonable stance, admitting that some hits are fantastic while others are poor.
The key argument is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no one way to craft art or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by conditions.
The elements, the session, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the pitch.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the foundation on which the players craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reconstructed in abstract form.
This is not a justification of the wicket which resulted in a triumph and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the wicket, leading to 36 wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, a long history and ongoing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the ball moves excessively for the fast men. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating because of the time devoted during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Specific conditions are accepted more freely than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were hindered from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – assessing the conditions and responding accordingly. The top two individual scores were made by world-class stars. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the supporters who have experienced a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the stadium, countless fans celebrated and created an atmosphere, fostering a party atmosphere in a bastion of sport.
There was hope as the bowlers surged, impetus when the top order responded, and pure joy when the victory was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a strip with all the life of a a non-event.
That match was a marathon, with minimal action and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – both are not perfect, yet value can be found in them.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the history books.
"This isn't the end of the long game at all," commented a former player. "The people who have been fortunate to see these two days have been experienced some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this Test, the leader talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.
The squad delivered for him, bringing back the joy to his persona.
Emerging talents delivered with crucial roles. These are baby steps, hardly enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a starting point to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this MCG win takes its place among other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad gathered on the turf to commence their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, men. You've earned this one.
