Within a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a neon pink ensemble performed in by the entertainer. The concert in front of a hundred thousand attendees was considered a triumph.
Perhaps you don't like the performer. You might think he is the greatest gift to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, admitting that some hits are excellent while others are poor.
The central idea is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to craft literature or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon external factors.
The climate, the session, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the pitch.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the foundation on which the athletes create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the great game taken to pieces and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the pitch which yielded a victory and the second two-day Test of the series.
Having a thick layer on the wicket, resulting in numerous dismissals tumbling in less than two days, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The format is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and ongoing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. Other times, it turns square on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting because of the time committed during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Some factors are accepted more readily than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the contest was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the top batters were prevented from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – assessing the situation and responding appropriately. The best individual contributions were made by world-class batters. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the fans who have suffered a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the stadium, a sea of people celebrated and created an atmosphere, producing a party atmosphere in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the fielding side surged, advantage when the top order responded, and rapturous celebration when the win was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with pitch problems. In the past, a match there featured a pitch with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a marathon, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the range – neither perfect, yet value can be ascribed to both.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the history books.
"Far from being the death of Test cricket at all," commented a veteran. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these short time have been experienced some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this match, the captain talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The players responded for him, reinstating the smile to his persona.
New faces delivered with key contributions. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a starting point to use as a platform.
In the end, this triumph joins other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd departed into a beautiful night, the squad assembled on the outfield to start their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, men. You've earned this one.
