Displayed inside a glass case on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a vibrant pink suit worn by the pop star. His performance in front of 100,024 attendees was hailed as a triumph.
You might not like the performer. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, conceding that some hits are excellent while others are awful.
The central idea is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to create music or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon the environment.
The weather, the hour of play, the ball – the list is endless. Most important is the wicket.
If the long game is a form of art, the pitch is the foundation on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the established format taken to pieces and reconstructed in abstract form.
This is not a justification of the surface which resulted in a triumph and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Leaving excessive grass on the surface, leading to 36 wickets being taken in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The format is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and still growing. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. Sometimes, it turns square on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The close matches are even more exciting owing to the time made during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Certain variables are embraced more readily than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the best players were hindered from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – reading the conditions and adapting accordingly. The two highest individual scores were made by recognized stars. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the fans who have experienced 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the ground, a sea of people made noise and chanted, generating a carnival vibe in a bastion of national pride.
There was hope as the bowlers excelled, impetus when players fought back, and unconditional love when the victory was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has form with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a non-event.
That fixture was a marathon, with few wickets and endless boredom. This recent match and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the scale – neither perfect, yet value can be found in them.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the memory.
"This isn't the demise of the long game at all," commented a past champion. "The people who have been privileged to see these two days have been experienced some real entertainment. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this Test, the captain talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The squad responded for him, reinstating the joy to his persona.
Emerging talents delivered with vital performances. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to secure long-term futures, but a starting point to build on.
At the very least, this MCG win is added to other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad assembled on the field to commence their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, lads. It's well deserved.
