In a showcase on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a neon pink outfit performed in by the entertainer. The show in front of 100,024 spectators was hailed as a success.
It's possible you enjoy the performer. You might think he is the finest offering to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, admitting that some hits are belting while others are poor.
The key argument is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to create art or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on the environment.
The elements, the time of day, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Most important is the playing surface.
If the long game is a form of art, the strip is the blank slate on which the athletes create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the established format taken to pieces and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
This is not a defence of the pitch which yielded a victory and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the surface, leading to 36 wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and ongoing. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are particularly captivating due to the time made in other matches.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Some factors are embraced more easily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the best players were hindered from playing their natural game.
Test cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the situation and adapting appropriately. The two highest individual contributions were made by world-class players. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the fans who have endured years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the ground, countless fans made noise and sang their songs, producing a festive mood in a bastion of national pride.
There was belief as the bowlers excelled, momentum when the top order responded, and unconditional love when the victory was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with difficult wickets. In the past, a match there featured a pitch with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a grind, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the range – both are not perfect, yet historical weight can be ascribed to both.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the memory.
"It's not the death of Test cricket at all," said a past champion. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been experienced some real entertainment. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this match, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The team protected him, restoring the joy to his countenance.
Emerging talents delivered with vital performances. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a starting point to develop from.
Ultimately, this MCG win is added to other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team gathered on the field to begin their own festivities.
Savour the moment, men. You've earned this one.
