In a display cabinet on the third floor of the MCG rests a neon pink ensemble worn by the pop star. The show in front of a hundred thousand spectators was considered a success.
You might not like the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, acknowledging that some songs are fantastic while others are terrible.
The point being is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to create literature or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on conditions.
The climate, the session, the red ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the pitch.
If the format is a form of art, the wicket is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the established format broken apart and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
This is not a justification of the wicket which resulted in a win and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the surface, resulting in numerous dismissals being taken in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and still growing. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball does all sorts for the seamers. Other times, it turns square on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are even more exciting because of the patience made in other matches.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are accepted more easily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the balance was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the top batters were unable from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the situation and responding accordingly. The top two individual innings were made by acknowledged players. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the supporters who have experienced years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the ground, countless fans waved their flags and chanted, producing a festive mood in a bastion of national pride.
There was hope as the fielding side excelled, momentum when batters scored quickly, and unconditional love when the victory was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a strip with all the life of a a damp squib.
That contest was a marathon, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the range – neither ideal, yet historical weight can be attached to both.
Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the memory.
"It's not the death of Test cricket at all," commented a veteran. "The people who have been fortunate to see these two days have been experienced some real entertainment. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this Test, the leader spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The players protected him, reinstating the joy to his persona.
Different players stepped up with vital performances. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a starting point to develop from.
At the very least, this MCG win is added to other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd left into a beautiful night, the players gathered on the turf to commence their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, boys. You've earned this one.
