Displayed inside a showcase on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a neon pink ensemble performed in by the pop star. His performance in front of a massive crowd of spectators was hailed as a major hit.
It's possible you appreciate his music. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music known to man. You might take a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some songs are excellent while others are terrible.
The point being is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is not a single method to craft literature or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on conditions.
The elements, the time of day, the ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the pitch.
If the long game is a form of art, the strip is the foundation on which the athletes craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the great game broken apart and reassembled in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the surface which produced a win and the another short match of the series.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the surface, leading to 36 wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The long game is a diverse canvas, a long history and counting. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The close matches are all the more thrilling due to the patience made during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Some factors are embraced more easily than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were prevented from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – reading the conditions and adjusting accordingly. The two highest individual innings were made by recognized batters. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the devotees who have endured 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the MCG, countless fans made noise and chanted, producing a carnival vibe in a stronghold of national pride.
There was belief as the attack excelled, momentum when the top order scored quickly, and pure joy when the win was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has form with controversial surfaces. Previously, a Test there featured a strip with the character of a a damp squib.
That contest was a slog, with few wickets and slow play. The latest encounter and that previous match are extreme ends of the range – both are not perfect, yet historical weight can be attached to both.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the memory.
"This isn't the end of Test cricket at all," commented a veteran. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these two days have been treated to some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this match, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The players delivered for him, bringing back the joy to his countenance.
New faces performed with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to secure long-term stability, but a starting point to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this triumph is added to other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters left into a stunning sunset, the squad congregated on the field to begin their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, lads. It's well deserved.
