Within a glass case on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a vibrant pink suit performed in by the pop star. His concert in front of a hundred thousand attendees was considered a success.
Perhaps you don't like the performer. Maybe you feel he is the finest offering to music known to man. You might take a middle ground, admitting that some songs are fantastic while others are terrible.
The point being is that enjoyment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to craft literature or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by conditions.
The weather, the time of day, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the pitch.
If the format is a form of art, the pitch is the canvas on which the athletes create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the established format taken to pieces and reassembled in abstract form.
This is not a justification of the wicket which yielded a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Having 10mm of grass on the surface, resulting in a cascade of wickets falling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and counting. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. In contrast, it turns square on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are particularly captivating owing to the investment made during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are tolerated more freely than others.
The contention in during the match was that the balance was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the wicket and adapting accordingly. The best individual innings were made by acknowledged players. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the devotees who have experienced years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the stadium, a sea of people celebrated and sang their songs, producing a party atmosphere in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the bowlers excelled, advantage when batters scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the result was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has a history with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a match there featured a wicket with the character of a a non-event.
That contest was a marathon, with few wickets and slow play. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the range – neither the standard, yet value can be ascribed to them.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the demise of the format at all," commented a past champion. "The people who have been privileged to see these short time have been treated to some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this Test, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The players responded for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his face.
Different players performed with crucial roles. These are baby steps, hardly enough to secure long-term futures, but something to build on.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory is added to other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd left into a stunning sunset, the players gathered on the field to commence their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, men. You've earned this one.
