In a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the MCG sits a vibrant pink suit performed in by the entertainer. His show in front of a hundred thousand fans was seen as a success.
You might not like the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music known to man. You might take a middle ground, admitting that some songs are belting while others are terrible.
The point being is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to create music or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on the environment.
The climate, the time of day, the red ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the wicket.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the foundation on which the players create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the great game dismantled and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the pitch which yielded a victory and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the wicket, leading to a cascade of wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, a long history and ongoing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it turns square on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The close matches are particularly captivating due to the time made in other matches.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are embraced more easily than others.
The contention in during the match was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – assessing the situation and adjusting effectively. The best individual innings were made by acknowledged batters. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Try telling the devotees who have experienced 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the stadium, thousands celebrated and created an atmosphere, generating a carnival vibe in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the bowlers excelled, impetus when the top order responded, and pure joy when the result was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a strip with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a marathon, with minimal action and interminable tedium. This recent match and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the range – neither the standard, yet value can be attached to them.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the history books.
"This isn't the demise of the format at all," said a veteran. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these two days have been given some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this match, the leader talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The players protected him, bringing back the joy to his countenance.
Emerging talents performed with vital performances. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term success, but something to develop from.
At the very least, this MCG win is added to other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans slipped away into a stunning sunset, the squad assembled on the turf to commence their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, boys. You've earned this one.
