Within a glass case on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a electric pink suit performed in by the pop star. His concert in front of a massive crowd of fans was seen as a major hit.
It's possible you appreciate the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, conceding that some tracks are belting while others are terrible.
The key argument is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to produce music or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on the environment.
The weather, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Above all is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the blank slate on which the cricketers create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport broken apart and stuck back together in abstract form.
This is not a defence of the surface which resulted in a victory and the another short match of the series.
Having a thick layer on the pitch, resulting in 36 wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The long game is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and ongoing. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it turns square on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are particularly captivating due to the investment made elsewhere.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Some factors are tolerated more readily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about problem solving – reading the wicket and adapting accordingly. The two highest individual innings were made by world-class stars. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the devotees who have experienced a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the ground, a sea of people made noise and sang their songs, fostering a carnival vibe in a stronghold of national pride.
There was hope as the fielding side surged, momentum when players responded, and pure joy when the result was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a game there featured a strip with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a grind, with limited drama and slow play. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – one is not more ideal, yet value can be found in them.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the history books.
"This isn't the death of the format at all," said a past champion. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been experienced some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this match, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The team delivered for him, bringing back the smile to his countenance.
Different players stepped up with key contributions. These are small positives, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but something to develop from.
In the end, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters left into a beautiful night, the players congregated on the outfield to begin their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, lads. You've earned this one.
