Within a showcase on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a neon pink suit performed in by the entertainer. His show in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a triumph.
Perhaps you don't appreciate the performer. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music in history. You might take a reasonable stance, conceding that some tracks are belting while others are awful.
The key argument is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to produce art or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by the environment.
The climate, the session, the red ball – the list is endless. Most important is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the foundation on which the cricketers create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the established format taken to pieces and reassembled in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the wicket which produced a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Allowing excessive grass on the wicket, resulting in 36 wickets tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and still growing. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Other times, it turns square on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are even more exciting because of the patience committed elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Some factors are tolerated more readily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the balance was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the top batters were hindered from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – reading the conditions and adjusting appropriately. The top two individual innings were made by acknowledged players. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the supporters who have experienced a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the stadium, countless fans made noise and created an atmosphere, producing a party atmosphere in a bastion of sport.
There was optimism as the fielding side dominated, impetus when players responded, and unconditional love when the result was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a match there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That contest was a grind, with few wickets and interminable tedium. This recent match and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – neither the standard, yet value can be found in both.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the demise of the long game at all," commented a former player. "Fans who have been privileged to see these short time have been treated to some genuine drama. A unique show."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this Test, the captain spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The players responded for him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Different players stepped up with vital performances. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a foundation to use as a platform.
At the very least, this triumph is added to other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters slipped away into a stunning sunset, the squad congregated on the outfield to begin their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, men. This victory was hard-fought.
