Within a display cabinet on the upper level of the MCG sits a vibrant pink suit performed in by the pop star. His concert in front of 100,024 attendees was hailed as a success.
It's possible you enjoy his music. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a balanced view, admitting that some songs are excellent while others are terrible.
The central idea is that enjoyment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to craft music or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on external factors.
The elements, the time of day, the red ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the pitch.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the canvas on which the athletes craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport dismantled and stuck back together in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the surface which resulted in a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Leaving a thick layer on the wicket, leading to a cascade of wickets falling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The long game is a varied portfolio, a long history and still growing. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the fast men. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are particularly captivating owing to the patience devoted in other matches.
Adjustment: The True Test
Certain variables are accepted more freely than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the best players were unable from playing their natural game.
The format is about finding solutions – interpreting the situation and adjusting effectively. The two highest individual contributions were made by recognized stars. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the devotees who have suffered 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the MCG, thousands made noise and chanted, producing a carnival vibe in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the bowlers surged, impetus when players responded, and rapturous celebration when the win was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with controversial surfaces. In the past, a game there featured a pitch with all the life of a a damp squib.
That match was a grind, with limited drama and interminable tedium. This recent match and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the range – neither perfect, yet value can be attached to them.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the history books.
"It's not the demise of Test cricket at all," observed a former player. "Fans who have been privileged to see these short time have been treated to some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this Test, the skipper talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.
The team responded for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Different players delivered with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to secure long-term futures, but a foundation to build on.
Ultimately, this MCG win is added to other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the fans slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team assembled on the turf to start their own festivities.
Savour the moment, lads. You've earned this one.
