In a glass case on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a vibrant pink suit performed in by the pop star. His performance in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a success.
You might not enjoy his music. You might think he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. You might take a middle ground, admitting that some tracks are fantastic while others are poor.
The key argument is that entertainment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to produce art or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by conditions.
The weather, the hour of play, the ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the playing surface.
If the format is a form of art, the strip is the blank slate on which the players craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the established format dismantled and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the surface which yielded a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Leaving excessive grass on the pitch, leading to a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is mistaken.
The format is a varied portfolio, a long history and still growing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating owing to the investment committed during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Some factors are tolerated more freely than others.
The argument in during the match was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the top batters were hindered from playing their natural game.
The format is about adapting to challenges – assessing the wicket and responding appropriately. The top two individual scores were made by acknowledged batters. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the fans who have suffered years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the MCG, countless fans waved their flags and chanted, generating a carnival vibe in a heartland of sport.
There was hope as the bowlers dominated, momentum when the top order fought back, and unconditional love when the win was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has form with pitch problems. Previously, a Test there featured a strip with the character of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a grind, with minimal action and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the range – one is not more perfect, yet value can be ascribed to both.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the memory.
"This isn't the demise of the format at all," observed a past champion. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been experienced some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this match, the leader spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The squad delivered for him, bringing back the joy to his countenance.
Emerging talents stepped up with key contributions. These are small positives, hardly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a starting point to develop from.
Ultimately, this triumph takes its place among other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans slipped away into a beautiful night, the players congregated on the field to begin their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, men. It's well deserved.
