In a glass case on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a vibrant pink suit performed in by the entertainer. His show in front of a massive crowd of spectators was considered a major hit.
You might not enjoy his music. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music known to man. You might take a balanced view, acknowledging that some songs are fantastic while others are terrible.
The central idea is that entertainment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no one way to create music or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. 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 list is endless. Crucially is the playing surface.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the blank slate on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the great game taken to pieces and stuck back together in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the pitch which resulted in a triumph and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Allowing a thick layer on the pitch, leading to a cascade of wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is mistaken.
The long game is a rich tapestry, a long history and still growing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are even more exciting owing to the time devoted during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Certain variables are tolerated more readily than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the top batters were unable from playing their natural game.
The format is about finding solutions – assessing the conditions and adapting accordingly. The best individual scores were made by world-class stars. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Go and inform the supporters who have endured a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the ground, thousands made noise and created an atmosphere, fostering a carnival vibe in a heartland of sport.
There was belief as the bowlers surged, impetus when batters scored quickly, and pure joy when the victory was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a game there featured a pitch with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a marathon, with limited drama and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the scale – neither the standard, yet value can be found in each.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the demise of Test cricket at all," observed a veteran. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been treated to some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this Test, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The team responded for him, bringing back the smile to his countenance.
Emerging talents stepped up with vital performances. These are baby steps, hardly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a foundation to use as a platform.
In the end, this MCG win takes its place among other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad gathered on the outfield to begin their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
