In a glass case on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a electric pink suit donned by the pop star. His performance in front of a massive crowd of spectators was seen as a success.
Perhaps you don't appreciate the performer. You might think he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a middle ground, admitting that some songs are fantastic while others are awful.
The point being is that amusement can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is no one way to create literature or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on conditions.
The climate, the time of day, the red ball – the list is endless. Most important is the wicket.
If the format is art, the pitch is the canvas on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the established format broken apart and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the pitch which resulted in a win and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Allowing excessive grass on the pitch, leading to a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
The long game is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and ongoing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Other times, it spins sharply on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The close matches are even more exciting because of the time committed elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Certain variables are tolerated more easily than others.
The argument in during the match was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the best players were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about problem solving – assessing the conditions and adapting effectively. The top two individual innings were made by acknowledged batters. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Go and inform the devotees who have suffered 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the ground, thousands waved their flags and chanted, fostering a carnival vibe in a heartland of national pride.
There was belief as the fielding side surged, impetus when players fought back, and rapturous celebration when the result was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has form with difficult wickets. Previously, a Test there featured a strip with all the life of a a non-event.
That contest was a slog, with limited drama and slow play. This recent match and that slow Test are polar opposites of the scale – neither the standard, yet historical weight can be found in them.
At this stage into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the memory.
"This isn't the end of the long game at all," observed a former player. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these two days have been treated to some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The team delivered for him, reinstating the smile to his persona.
Different players performed with vital performances. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to ensure long-term success, but a foundation to build on.
In the end, this triumph is added to other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd slipped away into a stunning sunset, the players congregated on the outfield to begin their own festivities.
Celebrate the win, lads. It's well deserved.
