In a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a electric pink suit performed in by the entertainer. The show in front of 100,024 spectators was seen as a success.
You might not appreciate his music. You might think he is the greatest gift to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some songs are excellent while others are poor.
The point being is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to create literature or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on conditions.
The climate, the session, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the wicket.
If the format is art, the wicket is the foundation on which the athletes create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the established format broken apart and reassembled in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the pitch which resulted in a win and the another short match of the series.
Allowing excessive grass on the wicket, leading to numerous dismissals being taken in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The long game is a diverse canvas, a long history and counting. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Other times, it turns square on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating owing to the patience made during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are accepted more freely than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the top batters were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the wicket and adapting effectively. The best individual scores were made by acknowledged batters. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the fans who have suffered a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the stadium, thousands made noise and sang their songs, producing a carnival vibe in a bastion of sport.
There was belief as the fielding side surged, impetus when the top order scored quickly, and unconditional love when the victory was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a match there featured a strip with the excitement of a a non-event.
That match was a marathon, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the spectrum – one is not more perfect, yet value can be found in each.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the history books.
"This isn't the end of the format at all," commented a past champion. "The people who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been treated to some real entertainment. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this match, the leader spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The squad responded for him, reinstating the joy to his face.
Emerging talents performed with vital performances. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term success, but something to develop from.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory joins other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd slipped away into a beautiful night, the squad congregated on the outfield to start their own festivities.
Savour the moment, lads. It's well deserved.
