In a showcase on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a vibrant pink outfit performed in by the pop star. His performance in front of a massive crowd of attendees was considered a major hit.
You might not like the performer. You might think he is the finest offering to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, acknowledging that some hits are belting while others are poor.
The central idea is that amusement can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to produce music or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon external factors.
The climate, the session, the red ball – the list is endless. Most important is the playing surface.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the blank slate on which the cricketers create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the established format broken apart and reassembled in abstract form.
This is not a endorsement of the surface which produced a win and the another short match of the contest.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the wicket, resulting in numerous dismissals falling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and counting. At times, as witnessed recently, the ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are even more exciting owing to the patience devoted during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are tolerated more readily than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the balance was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the top batters were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – assessing the situation and adapting appropriately. The top two individual contributions were made by world-class players. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the supporters who have experienced 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the stadium, countless fans celebrated and chanted, fostering a festive mood in a heartland of sport.
There was optimism as the bowlers dominated, impetus when the top order responded, and unconditional love when the win was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with controversial surfaces. In the past, a match there featured a pitch with all the life of a a non-event.
That contest was a slog, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – one is not more ideal, yet value can be ascribed to each.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the end of the format at all," commented a former player. "The people who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been given some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this match, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The team protected him, restoring the smile to his persona.
Emerging talents stepped up with key contributions. These are small positives, certainly not enough to ensure long-term futures, but something to develop from.
In the end, this Melbourne victory is added to other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans left into a beautiful night, the team assembled on the field to commence their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
