In a glass case on the third floor of the MCG sits a neon pink ensemble worn by the entertainer. The show in front of 100,024 spectators was considered a success.
Perhaps you don't like the performer. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Or you could adopt a middle ground, admitting that some tracks are fantastic while others are poor.
The central idea is that enjoyment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is not a single method to produce art or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by external factors.
The elements, the time of day, the ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the wicket.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the foundation on which the players create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the great game taken to pieces and reconstructed in abstract form.
This is not a justification of the wicket which resulted in a triumph and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Leaving a thick layer on the pitch, resulting in numerous dismissals being taken in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a diverse canvas, a long history and ongoing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting owing to the time devoted in other matches.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are tolerated more readily than others.
The debate in during the match was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the top batters were hindered from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the wicket and adapting accordingly. The best individual innings were made by recognized stars. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the devotees who have suffered a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the stadium, countless fans waved their flags and chanted, generating a carnival vibe in a heartland of sport.
There was hope as the fielding side surged, impetus when the top order responded, and unconditional love when the result was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with pitch problems. In the past, a Test there featured a strip with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a marathon, with limited drama and slow play. The two-day game and that slow Test are polar opposites of the scale – neither perfect, yet value can be ascribed to each.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the death of Test cricket at all," observed a veteran. "The people who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been given some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The players responded for him, restoring the joy to his countenance.
Different players stepped up with key contributions. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to ensure long-term futures, but a foundation to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this triumph is added to other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd departed into a beautiful night, the players congregated on the field to commence their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, men. This victory was hard-fought.
