In a showcase on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a vibrant pink suit donned by the pop star. The concert in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a major hit.
You might not enjoy his music. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music in history. You might take a middle ground, conceding that some hits are excellent while others are poor.
The key argument is that enjoyment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to create music or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by external factors.
The weather, the hour of play, the ball – the list is endless. Most important is the wicket.
If the format is art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the players create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the great game broken apart and stuck back together in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the pitch which resulted in a win and the another short match of the contest.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the surface, leading to a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and ongoing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling owing to the investment made during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are embraced more freely than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the best players were hindered from playing their natural game.
Test cricket is about problem solving – reading the wicket and adapting effectively. The two highest individual contributions were made by recognized batters. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the fans who have experienced years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the ground, countless fans waved their flags and sang their songs, generating a festive mood in a heartland of national pride.
There was hope as the fielding side surged, impetus when batters fought back, and unconditional love when the result was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has form with controversial surfaces. In the past, a game there featured a pitch with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a slog, with minimal action and interminable tedium. This recent match and that previous match are extreme ends of the range – both are not ideal, yet value can be found in both.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the demise of the long game at all," commented a veteran. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these short time have been treated to some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The players delivered for him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his countenance.
New faces delivered with key contributions. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to secure long-term success, but a starting point to develop from.
In the end, this MCG win takes its place among other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team assembled on the turf to begin their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, men. This victory was hard-fought.
