In a showcase on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a neon pink outfit donned by the pop star. His show in front of a hundred thousand fans was considered a triumph.
Perhaps you don't appreciate his music. Maybe you feel he is the finest offering to music in history. You might take a middle ground, conceding that some hits are belting while others are awful.
The key argument is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to produce literature or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on conditions.
The elements, the time of day, the red ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the wicket.
If the long game is art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport broken apart and reconstructed in abstract form.
This is not a defence of the surface which resulted in a triumph and the another short match of the contest.
Allowing a thick layer on the wicket, leading to a cascade of wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The long game is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and still growing. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the fast men. Other times, it grips and turns on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are even more exciting due to the patience made in other matches.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are tolerated more readily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the contest was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were prevented from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – assessing the wicket and adjusting appropriately. The best individual contributions were made by world-class stars. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the fans who have suffered 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the MCG, a sea of people made noise and sang their songs, producing a carnival vibe in a heartland of national pride.
There was hope as the fielding side dominated, advantage when players responded, and pure joy when the victory was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a match there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a non-event.
That fixture was a grind, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the scale – both are not ideal, yet value can be found in each.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the demise of the long game at all," observed a veteran. "Fans who have been privileged to see these short time have been experienced some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this match, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The squad protected him, restoring the positive demeanor to his face.
New faces performed with crucial roles. These are small positives, certainly not enough to ensure long-term success, but a foundation to build on.
Ultimately, this MCG win joins other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans departed into a beautiful night, the team assembled on the outfield to start their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
