In a showcase on the upper level of the MCG rests a neon pink outfit performed in by the entertainer. His performance in front of a hundred thousand attendees was seen as a triumph.
You might not appreciate his music. You might think he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, acknowledging that some songs are fantastic while others are poor.
The central idea is that entertainment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to craft music or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on the environment.
The elements, the hour of play, the ball – the list is endless. Above all is the wicket.
If the long game is a form of art, the wicket is the foundation on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport taken to pieces and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the wicket which yielded a victory and the another short match of the series.
Leaving excessive grass on the surface, causing a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a diverse canvas, a long history and ongoing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. In contrast, it turns square on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The close matches are all the more thrilling because of the time committed during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are embraced more freely than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were unable from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – assessing the situation and adjusting accordingly. The two highest individual scores were made by world-class players. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the fans who have suffered 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the ground, a sea of people made noise and created an atmosphere, fostering a party atmosphere in a heartland of national pride.
There was hope as the fielding side dominated, advantage when the top order responded, and rapturous celebration when the win was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Previously, a game there featured a pitch with the character of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a marathon, with few wickets and endless boredom. The two-day game and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the spectrum – both are not the standard, yet value can be attached to both.
At this stage into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the history books.
"This isn't the demise of the format at all," said a veteran. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these short time have been treated to some real entertainment. A unique show."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this match, the captain talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The team protected him, bringing back the joy to his face.
Different players performed with key contributions. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a starting point to build on.
At the very least, this MCG win takes its place among other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad assembled on the field to start their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, men. It's well deserved.
