Within a glass case on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a neon pink suit performed in by the pop star. His concert in front of a massive crowd of fans was hailed as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't enjoy the performer. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, admitting that some songs are excellent while others are terrible.
The point being is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no one way to produce art or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by conditions.
The weather, the time of day, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the pitch.
If the format is art, the wicket 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 great game dismantled and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the surface which produced a victory and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Having a thick layer on the surface, causing a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The long game is a varied portfolio, a long history and ongoing. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling owing to the investment made elsewhere.
Adaptation: The True Test
Certain variables are embraced more freely than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the top batters were prevented from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the conditions and adjusting effectively. The best individual contributions were made by world-class players. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the devotees who have suffered a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the stadium, a sea of people made noise and created an atmosphere, fostering a party atmosphere in a bastion of national pride.
There was hope as the fielding side excelled, momentum when the top order scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the result was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has form with difficult wickets. Previously, a Test there featured a wicket with the character of a a non-event.
That match was a marathon, with limited drama and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that previous match are polar opposites of the range – neither perfect, yet value can be ascribed to both.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the demise of the long game at all," commented a veteran. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these two days have been treated to some genuine drama. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this match, the leader talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The squad delivered for him, bringing back the joy to his face.
Different players stepped up with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to secure long-term futures, but a starting point to develop from.
Ultimately, this MCG win takes its place among other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans departed into a beautiful night, the players congregated on the outfield to commence their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, lads. You've earned this one.
