Within a showcase on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a neon pink suit performed in by the entertainer. His concert in front of a massive crowd of attendees was considered a success.
You might not appreciate his music. You might think he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a middle ground, admitting that some tracks are belting while others are terrible.
The key argument is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no one way to produce music or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on the environment.
The weather, the session, the ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the playing surface.
If the long game is a form of art, the strip is the canvas on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the established format broken apart and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
This is not a justification of the surface which produced a triumph and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the pitch, leading to a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and still growing. At times, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball does all sorts for the fast men. In contrast, it turns square on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are particularly captivating owing to the time made in other matches.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are accepted more easily than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the contest was tipped too far towards the attack. That the top batters were hindered from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the wicket and adjusting accordingly. The two highest individual innings were made by acknowledged batters. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the supporters who have endured years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the MCG, a sea of people made noise and created an atmosphere, fostering a carnival vibe in a heartland of sport.
There was belief as the attack dominated, impetus when players responded, and unconditional love when the win was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has form with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a match there featured a pitch with all the life of a a damp squib.
That contest was a marathon, with minimal action and endless boredom. The two-day game and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – one is not more perfect, yet historical weight can be found in both.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the death of the format at all," commented a former player. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been given some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The players responded for him, reinstating the joy to his countenance.
Different players performed with key contributions. These are small positives, certainly not enough to secure long-term futures, but a starting point to develop from.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory joins other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd slipped away into a beautiful night, the squad assembled on the turf to begin their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, boys. It's well deserved.
