In a display cabinet on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a neon pink suit donned by the entertainer. His show in front of a massive crowd of fans was hailed as a success.
You might not appreciate his music. You might think he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. You might take a balanced view, acknowledging that some hits are belting while others are awful.
The point being is that enjoyment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to craft art or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by the environment.
The elements, the session, the ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the pitch.
If the long game is a form of art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the pitch which resulted in a triumph and the another short match of the series.
Allowing a thick layer on the surface, causing 36 wickets tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, a long history and ongoing. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the ball moves excessively for the seamers. In contrast, it turns square on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting owing to the patience made elsewhere.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are accepted more freely than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the top batters were hindered from showcasing their talents.
The format is about finding solutions – assessing the conditions and adapting effectively. The top two individual scores were made by world-class stars. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the supporters who have endured a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the ground, countless fans waved their flags and chanted, fostering a party atmosphere in a heartland of sport.
There was optimism as the bowlers excelled, impetus when the top order fought back, and rapturous celebration when the win was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a wicket with all the life of a a non-event.
That fixture was a marathon, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that previous match are extreme ends of the scale – neither ideal, yet value can be ascribed to both.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the memory.
"Far from being the end of Test cricket at all," observed a veteran. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these short time have been treated to some genuine drama. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The players delivered for him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his face.
Different players performed with key contributions. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to ensure long-term success, but a starting point to develop from.
Ultimately, this MCG win takes its place among other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters slipped away into a stunning sunset, the team assembled on the outfield to start their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, boys. It's well deserved.
