Displayed inside a display cabinet on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a electric pink suit performed in by the entertainer. His concert in front of a massive crowd of fans was considered a success.
Perhaps you don't like the performer. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music known to man. You might take a middle ground, acknowledging that some hits are belting while others are poor.
The central idea is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to craft art or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon conditions.
The weather, the time of day, the ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the pitch.
If the long game is a form of art, the strip is the canvas on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport dismantled and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the surface which produced a win and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the pitch, resulting in numerous dismissals falling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, a long history and ongoing. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. Other times, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are particularly captivating owing to the investment committed elsewhere.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Some factors are embraced more readily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the best players were hindered from playing their natural game.
The format is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the conditions and adjusting effectively. The best individual innings were made by recognized players. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the devotees who have experienced years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the ground, countless fans made noise and chanted, generating a carnival vibe in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the attack surged, impetus when batters scored quickly, and unconditional love when the win was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with controversial surfaces. In the past, a Test there featured a strip with the excitement of a a non-event.
That contest was a grind, with few wickets and endless boredom. The two-day game and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the spectrum – both are not perfect, yet value can be ascribed to each.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the history books.
"It's not the end of Test cricket at all," said a veteran. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been given some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this match, the leader spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.
The team protected him, bringing back the smile to his countenance.
Emerging talents stepped up with key contributions. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to ensure long-term futures, but something to use as a platform.
At the very least, this MCG win takes its place among other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans left into a beautiful night, the squad assembled on the turf to begin their own festivities.
Savour the moment, men. It's well deserved.
