In a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a neon pink suit donned by the pop star. The concert in front of a hundred thousand spectators was hailed as a success.
You might not like the performer. You might think he is the finest offering to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, admitting that some hits are excellent while others are awful.
The key argument is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to produce art or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by the environment.
The weather, the hour of play, the red ball – the list is endless. Most important is the playing surface.
If the long game is a form of art, the wicket is the canvas on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport dismantled and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
This is not a justification of the surface which resulted in a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Leaving a thick layer on the pitch, leading to numerous dismissals being taken in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is incorrect.
The format is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and counting. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling due to the investment devoted in other matches.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Some factors are accepted more freely than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were prevented from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the wicket and adapting accordingly. The two highest individual scores were made by recognized batters. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Try telling the devotees who have endured a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the ground, countless fans waved their flags and created an atmosphere, generating a festive mood in a heartland of national pride.
There was optimism as the attack dominated, impetus when batters fought back, and unconditional love when the victory was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That contest was a marathon, with few wickets and slow play. The two-day game and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the scale – both are not perfect, yet value can be attached to both.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the demise of the format at all," said a past champion. "Fans who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been given some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this Test, the captain spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The team protected him, restoring the positive demeanor to his persona.
Emerging talents delivered with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term success, but something to use as a platform.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory is added to other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team gathered on the outfield to begin their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, boys. You've earned this one.
