Within a showcase on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a vibrant pink outfit performed in by the pop star. The concert in front of a hundred thousand fans was considered a triumph.
It's possible you appreciate the performer. You might think he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a balanced view, conceding that some songs are excellent while others are terrible.
The central idea is that amusement can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to create literature or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon conditions.
The elements, the session, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the playing surface.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the canvas on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the great game taken to pieces and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the pitch which resulted in a win and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Having a thick layer on the pitch, resulting in 36 wickets falling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The long game is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and still growing. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the ball does all sorts for the seamers. Other times, it grips and turns on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling owing to the patience devoted in other matches.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Some factors are tolerated more freely than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the best players were unable from showcasing their talents.
The format is about problem solving – interpreting the situation and responding accordingly. The two highest individual innings were made by acknowledged players. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Try telling the supporters who have experienced years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the ground, a sea of people made noise and created an atmosphere, producing a party atmosphere in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the fielding side surged, impetus when players responded, and pure joy when the win was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a game there featured a wicket with the character of a a non-event.
That match was a slog, with limited drama and interminable tedium. This recent match and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the spectrum – neither the standard, yet significance can be ascribed to them.
At this stage into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the end of Test cricket at all," commented a past champion. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been treated to some genuine drama. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this Test, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The squad protected him, bringing back the joy to his countenance.
New faces stepped up with vital performances. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a starting point to use as a platform.
At the very least, this triumph is added to other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters slipped away into a stunning sunset, the players congregated on the turf to commence their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, boys. It's well deserved.
