In a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a vibrant pink outfit worn by the pop star. His performance in front of a hundred thousand fans was hailed as a triumph.
You might not appreciate his music. You might think he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, admitting that some tracks are excellent while others are awful.
The point being is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to create music or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon external factors.
The weather, the session, the ball – the list is endless. Most important is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is art, the wicket is the canvas on which the players create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport taken to pieces and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the pitch which resulted in a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Allowing a thick layer on the wicket, leading to a cascade of wickets being taken in less than two days, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is mistaken.
The long game is a rich tapestry, a long history and ongoing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Other times, it turns square on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are even more exciting due to the time made elsewhere.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Certain variables are accepted more easily than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were unable from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the conditions and adapting appropriately. The best individual contributions were made by world-class stars. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the devotees who have experienced a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the MCG, countless fans celebrated and sang their songs, generating a party atmosphere in a stronghold of sport.
There was belief as the bowlers surged, advantage when batters fought back, and pure joy when the victory was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with difficult wickets. Previously, a Test there featured a pitch with all the life of a a non-event.
That fixture was a marathon, with minimal action and slow play. The two-day game and that slow Test are extreme ends of the spectrum – both are not perfect, yet significance can be attached to them.
Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the memory.
"Far from being the end of Test cricket at all," commented a former player. "Fans who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been treated to some real entertainment. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The squad delivered for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Different players stepped up with vital performances. These are small positives, certainly not enough to ensure long-term success, but a foundation to develop from.
At the very least, this triumph takes its place among other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the fans left into a stunning sunset, the team gathered on the turf to commence their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, lads. You've earned this one.
