Within a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a electric pink ensemble performed in by the pop star. The show in front of a massive crowd of attendees was seen as a success.
You might not like the performer. You might think he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some songs are excellent while others are terrible.
The point being is that amusement can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is no one way to craft art or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by the environment.
The weather, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the wicket.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the pitch is the foundation on which the players paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the established format broken apart and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the pitch which yielded a triumph and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Allowing excessive grass on the wicket, resulting in numerous dismissals falling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The long game is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and counting. At times, as witnessed recently, the ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are even more exciting owing to the time devoted in other matches.
Adjustment: The True Test
Some factors are embraced more easily than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were hindered from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the situation and adapting appropriately. The top two individual scores were made by world-class batters. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the fans who have endured a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the stadium, thousands waved their flags and chanted, producing a carnival vibe in a heartland of sport.
There was optimism as the bowlers dominated, advantage when batters scored quickly, and pure joy when the win was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has form with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a match there featured a wicket with all the life of a a non-event.
That match was a grind, with limited drama and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – neither perfect, yet historical weight can be ascribed to each.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the history books.
"This isn't the demise of the long game at all," commented a former player. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been given some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this Test, the captain talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The players responded for him, reinstating the smile to his countenance.
Different players delivered with crucial roles. These are small positives, hardly enough to ensure long-term stability, but something to develop from.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters departed into a beautiful night, the team assembled on the outfield to commence their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
