In a display cabinet on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a neon pink ensemble performed in by the entertainer. The performance in front of a hundred thousand spectators was considered a major hit.
It's possible you appreciate his music. Maybe you feel he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, conceding that some songs are belting while others are awful.
The central idea is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no one way to create art or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by conditions.
The weather, the hour of play, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the wicket.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the foundation on which the players create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the established format dismantled and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
This is not a endorsement of the surface which yielded a win and the second two-day Test of the series.
Allowing a thick layer on the wicket, resulting in a cascade of wickets falling in less than two days, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The format is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and ongoing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling due to the investment committed during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Some factors are tolerated more easily than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the balance was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the best players were hindered from showcasing their talents.
The format is about problem solving – reading the wicket and adapting effectively. The top two individual scores were made by recognized players. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Try telling the supporters who have suffered years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the ground, a sea of people made noise and created an atmosphere, generating a party atmosphere in a stronghold of national pride.
There was belief as the fielding side excelled, momentum when the top order fought back, and rapturous celebration when the result was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with controversial surfaces. In the past, a Test there featured a wicket with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a marathon, with limited drama and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that previous match are extreme ends of the range – one is not more perfect, yet value can be found in each.
Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the history books.
"This isn't the death of Test cricket at all," commented a past champion. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these short time have been treated to some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this match, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The team delivered for him, bringing back the smile to his face.
New faces performed with vital performances. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to ensure long-term futures, but a foundation to build on.
At the very least, this MCG win takes its place among other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team gathered on the field to start their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, lads. It's well deserved.
