Displayed inside a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a vibrant pink suit performed in by the pop star. The performance in front of a massive crowd of spectators was hailed as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't like the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, conceding that some tracks are excellent while others are terrible.
The central idea is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to create music or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on the environment.
The elements, the session, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the playing surface.
If the format is art, the strip is the canvas on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the established format taken to pieces and reassembled in abstract form.
This is not a justification of the wicket which produced a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Allowing a thick layer on the pitch, leading to 36 wickets falling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The format is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and ongoing. At times, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. In contrast, it turns square on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating due to the time devoted elsewhere.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Some factors are tolerated more freely than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were hindered from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – reading the situation and responding effectively. The top two individual innings were made by acknowledged batters. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the fans who have endured 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the stadium, thousands made noise and created an atmosphere, generating a party atmosphere in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the attack excelled, impetus when players responded, and pure joy when the win was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a game there featured a pitch with the character of a a damp squib.
That contest was a grind, with minimal action and interminable tedium. This recent match and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the scale – neither the standard, yet value can be found in both.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the history books.
"It's not the demise of Test cricket at all," said a past champion. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been treated to some real entertainment. A unique show."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this match, the leader spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The team delivered for him, bringing back the joy to his persona.
New faces delivered with crucial roles. These are small positives, hardly enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a starting point to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this triumph takes its place among other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters slipped away into a beautiful night, the team congregated on the outfield to commence their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, men. It's well deserved.
