Within a glass case on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a electric pink outfit donned by the entertainer. The show in front of a hundred thousand spectators was hailed as a triumph.
Perhaps you don't appreciate the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, conceding that some hits are belting while others are terrible.
The point being is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to create literature or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by external factors.
The elements, the hour of play, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the pitch.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the blank slate on which the athletes create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the great game broken apart and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the wicket which resulted in a win and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Having 10mm of grass on the surface, resulting in numerous dismissals being taken in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and still growing. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Other times, it turns square on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are particularly captivating because of the time made in other matches.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are tolerated more readily than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the best players were unable from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the wicket and adapting effectively. The two highest individual innings were made by acknowledged stars. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the supporters who have endured a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the MCG, thousands made noise and created an atmosphere, fostering a festive mood in a stronghold of sport.
There was hope as the bowlers excelled, impetus when the top order responded, and pure joy when the win was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a match there featured a wicket with the character of a a non-event.
That match was a grind, with few wickets and endless boredom. The two-day game and that slow Test are polar opposites of the scale – both are not ideal, yet significance can be found in each.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the end of Test cricket at all," commented a former player. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these short time have been given some real entertainment. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this Test, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The team protected him, restoring the joy to his countenance.
Emerging talents performed with key contributions. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to secure long-term stability, but a foundation to use as a platform.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory is added to other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd departed into a beautiful night, the players gathered on the field to start their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, lads. You've earned this one.
