Within a showcase on the elevated floor of the MCG sits a electric pink suit performed in by the entertainer. His concert in front of 100,024 fans was hailed as a major hit.
You might not enjoy his music. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music in history. Or you could adopt a balanced view, conceding that some hits are belting while others are terrible.
The key argument is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to produce art or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by the environment.
The weather, the hour of play, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the wicket.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the foundation on which the cricketers 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 dismantled and reconstructed in abstract form.
This is not a defence of the pitch which resulted in a victory and the second two-day Test of the series.
Allowing excessive grass on the pitch, causing 36 wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The long game is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and counting. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting owing to the investment committed in other matches.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are tolerated more easily than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the top batters were prevented from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the situation and adjusting accordingly. The best individual innings were made by acknowledged batters. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the devotees who have endured years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the MCG, thousands celebrated and created an atmosphere, generating a carnival vibe in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the bowlers excelled, impetus when players responded, and rapturous celebration when the win was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has a history with pitch problems. Previously, a Test there featured a pitch with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a grind, with few wickets and slow play. This recent match and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the scale – both are not perfect, yet significance can be ascribed to both.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the history books.
"This isn't the end of the format at all," said a former player. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these short time have been given some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this match, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The team responded for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his persona.
New faces stepped up with crucial roles. These are baby steps, hardly enough to guarantee long-term stability, but something to develop from.
In the end, this MCG win joins other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad gathered on the turf to start their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, lads. It's well deserved.
