Within a showcase on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a vibrant pink ensemble worn by the pop star. His concert in front of 100,024 spectators was hailed as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't like the performer. You might think he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, admitting that some hits are fantastic while others are poor.
The point being is that entertainment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to produce literature or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon external factors.
The elements, the session, the red ball – the list is endless. Most important is the wicket.
If the long game is art, the strip is the blank slate on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport broken apart and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the wicket which produced a win and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Allowing a thick layer on the pitch, leading to numerous dismissals tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and still growing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a spinning track. 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 patience committed during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are embraced more readily than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were unable from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the situation and adapting accordingly. The top two individual scores were made by recognized stars. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the supporters who have experienced years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the stadium, countless fans made noise and chanted, producing a carnival vibe in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the fielding side excelled, advantage when the top order responded, and unconditional love when the win was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with difficult wickets. Previously, a match there featured a wicket with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a marathon, with limited drama and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that slow Test are polar opposites of the range – neither the standard, 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 history books.
"Far from being the end of the format at all," said a veteran. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been given some genuine drama. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this Test, the captain talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The players delivered for him, restoring the joy to his face.
Emerging talents stepped up with crucial roles. These are baby steps, hardly enough to ensure long-term futures, but a starting point to develop from.
Ultimately, this MCG win is added to other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players gathered on the field to commence their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, men. This victory was hard-fought.
