Displayed inside a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a vibrant pink suit worn by the pop star. His concert in front of a massive crowd of spectators was seen as a triumph.
You might not appreciate his music. You might think he is the greatest gift to music in history. You might take a balanced view, admitting that some tracks are fantastic while others are poor.
The central idea is that entertainment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no one way to create art or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on conditions.
The elements, the hour of play, the ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the wicket.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the strip is the canvas on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport broken apart and reassembled in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the wicket which produced a triumph and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the surface, resulting in a cascade of wickets falling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is mistaken.
The long game is a diverse canvas, a long history and still growing. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling because of the investment devoted during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Certain variables are accepted more readily than others.
The contention in during the match was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the best players were hindered from showcasing their talents.
The format is about problem solving – interpreting the situation and adjusting effectively. The two highest individual scores were made by recognized players. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Go and inform the devotees who have experienced a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the MCG, countless fans celebrated and created an atmosphere, generating a party atmosphere in a bastion of national pride.
There was optimism as the attack surged, advantage when the top order responded, and unconditional love when the win was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with controversial surfaces. In the past, a match there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That contest was a slog, with minimal action and endless boredom. This recent match and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the range – neither the standard, yet historical weight can be attached to each.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the memory.
"This isn't the demise of the format at all," said a past champion. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been experienced some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this Test, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The team delivered for him, bringing back the smile to his persona.
Different players performed with key contributions. These are small positives, not nearly enough to ensure long-term futures, but something to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this MCG win joins other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans departed into a stunning sunset, the squad assembled on the outfield to start their own festivities.
Celebrate the win, lads. You've earned this one.
