In a showcase on the third floor of the MCG is housed a vibrant pink suit donned by the pop star. The concert in front of a hundred thousand spectators was hailed as a major hit.
You might not like his music. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music known to man. You might take a middle ground, acknowledging that some tracks are belting while others are terrible.
The central idea is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is not a single method to create art or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on conditions.
The elements, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the pitch.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the foundation on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the established format taken to pieces and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
This is not a endorsement of the surface which resulted in a victory and the another short match of the contest.
Having a thick layer on the wicket, resulting in a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and still growing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Other times, it turns square on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The close matches are particularly captivating because of the patience made in other matches.
Adaptation: The True Test
Specific conditions are tolerated more easily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the top batters were prevented from playing their natural game.
The format is about adapting to challenges – reading the wicket and adapting accordingly. The top two individual scores were made by recognized players. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Go and inform the supporters who have endured a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the MCG, a sea of people waved their flags and sang their songs, generating a carnival vibe in a stronghold of sport.
There was belief as the attack surged, impetus when the top order fought back, and pure joy when the win was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has form with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a game there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a non-event.
That contest was a marathon, with limited drama and endless boredom. This recent match and that previous match are polar opposites of the spectrum – both are not perfect, yet significance can be found in both.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the memory.
"This isn't the death of Test cricket at all," commented a veteran. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these short time have been treated to some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this match, the leader talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The players responded for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his persona.
New faces delivered with key contributions. These are small positives, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a foundation to use as a platform.
In the end, this Melbourne victory is added to other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd left into a beautiful night, the players assembled on the turf to commence their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, boys. You've earned this one.
