Displayed inside a display cabinet on the upper level of the MCG rests a vibrant pink suit worn by the entertainer. The performance in front of 100,024 attendees was seen as a triumph.
It's possible you like the performer. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. You might take a balanced view, admitting that some tracks are fantastic while others are poor.
The central idea is that enjoyment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to create music or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by the environment.
The climate, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Most important is the wicket.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the canvas on which the players create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the established format taken to pieces and reassembled in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the surface which resulted in a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the wicket, leading to 36 wickets falling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The format is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and still growing. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are particularly captivating because of the time committed during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Certain variables are accepted more freely than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the top batters were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about problem solving – interpreting the wicket and responding effectively. The two highest individual innings were made by world-class batters. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the fans who have endured 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the ground, a sea of people celebrated and chanted, fostering a carnival vibe in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the attack surged, advantage when players responded, and unconditional love when the result was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has form with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a strip with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a slog, with few wickets and endless boredom. This recent match and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the scale – neither ideal, yet historical weight can be attached to both.
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 format at all," commented a veteran. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been experienced some real entertainment. A unique show."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The players responded for him, bringing back the joy to his countenance.
New faces performed with vital performances. These are small positives, hardly enough to ensure long-term stability, but a starting point to develop from.
Ultimately, this triumph joins other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd left into a stunning sunset, the squad gathered on the outfield to start their own festivities.
Celebrate the win, boys. It's well deserved.
