In a glass case on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a electric pink ensemble performed in by the entertainer. The concert in front of a hundred thousand attendees was seen as a triumph.
It's possible you like the performer. You might think he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a balanced view, admitting that some songs are belting while others are terrible.
The key argument is that enjoyment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to create music or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by conditions.
The elements, the time of day, the ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the pitch.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the canvas on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the established format dismantled and reconstructed in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the surface which resulted in a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Having 10mm of grass on the surface, leading to 36 wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The format is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and counting. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball moves excessively for the fast men. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are particularly captivating due to the patience devoted during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are embraced more readily than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the best players were unable from showcasing their talents.
The format is about finding solutions – interpreting the wicket and responding effectively. The two highest individual innings were made by recognized players. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the supporters who have suffered years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the MCG, countless fans celebrated and chanted, generating a party atmosphere in a stronghold of national pride.
There was optimism as the fielding side excelled, impetus when the top order fought back, and rapturous celebration when the result was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with pitch problems. Previously, a match there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a non-event.
That contest was a slog, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that slow Test are extreme ends of the range – both are not perfect, yet significance can be attached to each.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the history books.
"It's not the death of the long game at all," observed a former player. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these short time have been treated to some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this match, the skipper talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The team delivered for him, bringing back the joy to his face.
New faces stepped up with key contributions. These are baby steps, hardly enough to secure long-term success, but a starting point to develop from.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory is added to other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans departed into a stunning sunset, the squad congregated on the turf to commence their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, lads. You've earned this one.
