Displayed inside a glass case on the elevated floor of the MCG is housed a vibrant pink suit donned by the entertainer. His concert in front of 100,024 attendees was seen as a triumph.
It's possible you appreciate the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, acknowledging that some tracks are fantastic while others are poor.
The point being is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to craft literature or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on the environment.
The weather, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Above all is the wicket.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the foundation on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the great game taken to pieces and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the surface which resulted in a win and the another short match of the series.
Allowing a thick layer on the wicket, leading to numerous dismissals falling in less than two days, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a diverse canvas, a long history and ongoing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are even more exciting due to the time committed elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are tolerated more easily than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the wicket and responding accordingly. The two highest individual scores were made by recognized batters. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Go and inform the fans who have suffered 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the MCG, thousands waved their flags and chanted, fostering a party atmosphere in a heartland of national pride.
There was optimism as the fielding side excelled, momentum when the top order responded, and unconditional love when the result was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a game there featured a strip with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That match was a marathon, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that slow Test are polar opposites of the spectrum – neither the standard, yet historical weight can be found in both.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the memory.
"This isn't the end of Test cricket at all," commented a veteran. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these short time have been treated to some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this match, the skipper talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The players delivered for him, reinstating the joy to his countenance.
Emerging talents delivered with vital performances. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to secure long-term stability, but a foundation to use as a platform.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory is added to other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans slipped away into a stunning sunset, the squad assembled on the field to commence their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, lads. You've earned this one.
