Within a display cabinet on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a vibrant pink outfit donned by the pop star. His concert in front of a massive crowd of attendees was seen as a success.
Perhaps you don't appreciate the performer. You might think he is the greatest gift to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, admitting that some tracks are excellent while others are awful.
The key argument is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to produce music or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by conditions.
The elements, the time of day, the ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the wicket.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the foundation on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport taken to pieces and stuck back together in abstract form.
This is not a endorsement of the surface which resulted in a win and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Leaving excessive grass on the pitch, causing 36 wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The format is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and counting. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating due to the patience committed elsewhere.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Some factors are tolerated more readily than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the balance was tipped too far towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were prevented from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – assessing the conditions and responding effectively. The top two individual contributions were made by acknowledged players. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the supporters who have endured years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the stadium, a sea of people celebrated and chanted, producing a festive mood in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the attack dominated, impetus when players scored quickly, and unconditional love when the victory was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with pitch problems. In the past, a game there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a non-event.
That match was a grind, with limited drama and slow play. This recent match and that previous match are polar opposites of the range – neither ideal, yet historical weight can be attached to them.
At this stage into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the memory.
"This isn't the death of Test cricket at all," commented a past champion. "Fans who have been privileged to see these short time have been given some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The squad delivered for him, restoring the smile to his countenance.
New faces stepped up with crucial roles. These are small positives, certainly not enough to ensure long-term success, but something to develop from.
In the end, this triumph joins other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans slipped away into a stunning sunset, the team congregated on the field to begin their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, lads. You've earned this one.
