In a showcase on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a vibrant pink suit worn by the pop star. The performance in front of 100,024 spectators was considered a major hit.
It's possible you enjoy his music. You might think he is the greatest gift to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, admitting that some tracks are fantastic while others are awful.
The central idea is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to craft literature or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by the environment.
The elements, the time of day, the red ball – the list is endless. Most important is the playing surface.
If the format is art, the strip is the blank slate on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the established format dismantled and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
This is not a defence of the pitch which yielded a win and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the wicket, causing numerous dismissals falling in less than two days, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The long game is a rich tapestry, a long history and still growing. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are particularly captivating because of the time made in other matches.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Certain variables are embraced more readily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were prevented from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the conditions and responding accordingly. The top two individual contributions were made by world-class players. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the fans who have suffered years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the stadium, thousands celebrated and chanted, fostering a carnival vibe in a stronghold of sport.
There was optimism as the fielding side surged, advantage when the top order fought back, and unconditional love when the victory was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with difficult wickets. Previously, a game there featured a wicket with the character of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a marathon, with limited drama and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the scale – one is not more perfect, yet historical weight can be ascribed to them.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the history books.
"Far from being the end of the format at all," observed a veteran. "The people who have been privileged to see these two days have been treated to some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this Test, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The team protected him, restoring the joy to his face.
Different players delivered with key contributions. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to ensure long-term stability, but something to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory is added to other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team gathered on the outfield to start their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, boys. It's well deserved.
