Within a showcase on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a neon pink suit donned by the pop star. His show in front of a hundred thousand spectators was hailed as a triumph.
You might not enjoy the performer. Maybe you feel he is the finest offering to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, conceding that some tracks are excellent while others are terrible.
The point being is that enjoyment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to create music or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by external factors.
The weather, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the pitch.
If the format is art, the strip is the canvas on which the cricketers create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the established format broken apart and stuck back together in abstract form.
This is not a justification of the pitch which produced a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Allowing a thick layer on the surface, resulting in 36 wickets falling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The format is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and still growing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are even more exciting because of the investment made in other matches.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Some factors are embraced more readily than others.
The argument in during the match was that the contest was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the top batters were prevented from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the wicket and responding effectively. The two highest individual innings were made by world-class players. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Try telling the supporters who have suffered a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the stadium, countless fans celebrated and sang their songs, generating a carnival vibe in a bastion of sport.
There was optimism as the fielding side dominated, advantage when the top order responded, and rapturous celebration when the result was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with difficult wickets. In the past, a match there featured a pitch with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a marathon, with minimal action and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that slow Test are extreme ends of the scale – neither ideal, yet significance can be ascribed to each.
Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the history books.
"This isn't the demise of the format at all," commented a former player. "The people who have been privileged to see these two days have been treated to some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this match, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The squad protected him, bringing back the smile to his persona.
Emerging talents performed with crucial roles. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to secure long-term success, but a starting point to develop from.
Ultimately, this triumph joins other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters slipped away into a beautiful night, the squad gathered on the turf to start their own festivities.
Celebrate the win, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
