Within a glass case on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a neon pink ensemble donned by the pop star. The concert in front of a massive crowd of spectators was considered a triumph.
It's possible you like his music. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a middle ground, admitting that some hits are fantastic while others are awful.
The central idea is that enjoyment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to craft art or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon conditions.
The weather, the session, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the playing surface.
If the format is a form of art, the wicket is the canvas on which the players paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the established format taken to pieces and stuck back together in abstract form.
This is not a justification of the pitch which yielded a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Having 10mm of grass on the wicket, resulting in numerous dismissals falling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is incorrect.
The long game is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and still growing. At times, as witnessed recently, the ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling because of the investment made elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are tolerated more easily than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the top batters were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about problem solving – reading the conditions and adjusting accordingly. The top two individual innings were made by world-class batters. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the fans who have experienced 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the MCG, a sea of people made noise and chanted, producing a party atmosphere in a heartland of national pride.
There was belief as the fielding side dominated, advantage when the top order responded, and pure joy when the win was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a strip with the character of a a damp squib.
That match was a slog, with limited drama and endless boredom. This recent match and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the range – neither perfect, yet significance can be ascribed to them.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the memory.
"This isn't the death of Test cricket at all," commented a past champion. "The people who have been privileged to see these short time have been treated to some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this match, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The players delivered for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his countenance.
New faces stepped up with crucial roles. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a starting point to use as a platform.
In the end, this triumph joins other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd left into a stunning sunset, the squad gathered on the outfield to commence their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, lads. It's well deserved.
