In a glass case on the upper level of the MCG is housed a electric pink suit performed in by the entertainer. His performance in front of 100,024 attendees was seen as a triumph.
It's possible you like the performer. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, conceding that some songs are fantastic while others are poor.
The central idea is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to produce art or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by external factors.
The weather, the hour of play, the ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the wicket.
If the format is a form of art, the pitch is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the great game dismantled and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
This is not a defence of the pitch which yielded a win and the second two-day Test of the series.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the surface, leading to 36 wickets falling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The format is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and ongoing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the ball moves excessively for the fast men. In contrast, it turns square on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling owing to the patience committed during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The True Test
Specific conditions are tolerated more easily than others.
The argument in during the match was that the balance was tipped too far towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were unable from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about finding solutions – reading the wicket and adapting appropriately. The top two individual scores were made by recognized stars. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the supporters who have suffered years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the ground, countless fans waved their flags and created an atmosphere, fostering a carnival vibe in a stronghold of sport.
There was hope as the bowlers dominated, advantage when players fought back, and pure joy when the win was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has form with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a game there featured a wicket with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a grind, with limited drama and slow play. This recent match and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the range – both are not the standard, yet value can be ascribed to them.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the demise of the long game at all," said a veteran. "The people who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been experienced some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The team protected him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Different players performed with key contributions. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to ensure long-term futures, but a foundation to use as a platform.
In the end, this MCG win joins other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players congregated on the outfield to start their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, lads. It's well deserved.
