In a display cabinet on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a vibrant pink suit worn by the pop star. His show in front of a hundred thousand fans was seen as a triumph.
You might not enjoy the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music in history. Or you could adopt a middle ground, conceding that some tracks are fantastic while others are terrible.
The point being is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to produce music or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by the environment.
The weather, the session, the ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the playing surface.
If the format is a form of art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the established format dismantled and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the wicket which yielded a victory and the second two-day Test of the series.
Allowing a thick layer on the wicket, resulting in 36 wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and still growing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting due to the time made during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are tolerated more easily than others.
The debate in during the match was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were hindered from showcasing their talents.
The format is about finding solutions – reading the wicket and adapting effectively. The top two individual innings were made by acknowledged batters. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Try telling the fans who have suffered years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the MCG, countless fans celebrated and sang their songs, producing a party atmosphere in a stronghold of national pride.
There was belief as the bowlers excelled, advantage when players fought back, and pure joy when the win was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with difficult wickets. Previously, a match there featured a wicket with all the life of a a damp squib.
That match was a grind, with few wickets and slow play. This recent match and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the scale – one is not more ideal, yet significance can be found in both.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the end of the format at all," observed a veteran. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these two days have been experienced some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this Test, the captain talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The players protected him, reinstating the smile to his persona.
Different players stepped up with crucial roles. These are small positives, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term success, but a starting point to build on.
In the end, this triumph is added to other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd left into a stunning sunset, the players gathered on the outfield to commence their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, men. It's well deserved.
