Within a glass case on the upper level of the MCG rests a vibrant pink ensemble worn by the entertainer. The concert in front of a hundred thousand fans was seen as a triumph.
You might not like the performer. You might think he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. You might take a middle ground, acknowledging that some tracks are excellent while others are terrible.
The key argument is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to produce literature or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon the environment.
The elements, the session, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the athletes create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport broken apart and reconstructed in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the surface which produced a victory and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Leaving a thick layer on the pitch, leading to numerous dismissals falling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The format is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and counting. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Other times, it turns square on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting due to the investment made elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Some factors are accepted more readily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the best players were prevented from playing their natural game.
Test cricket is about finding solutions – reading the conditions and responding effectively. The two highest individual contributions were made by world-class batters. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the fans who have suffered 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the stadium, countless fans celebrated and chanted, generating a festive mood in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the attack surged, advantage when the top order responded, and pure joy when the victory was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has form with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a wicket with the character of a a non-event.
That match was a slog, with limited drama and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that slow Test are polar opposites of the range – both are not perfect, yet value can be attached to each.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the history books.
"This isn't the end of Test cricket at all," said a past champion. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been experienced some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this match, the leader talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The players protected him, restoring the positive demeanor to his persona.
Emerging talents stepped up with vital performances. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to secure long-term success, but a foundation to build on.
In the end, this MCG win joins other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team assembled on the outfield to commence their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, men. This victory was hard-fought.
