Displayed inside a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a neon pink suit donned by the pop star. The performance in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a major hit.
You might not like the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, conceding that some hits are excellent while others are terrible.
The key argument is that amusement can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no one way to produce art or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon external factors.
The climate, the time of day, the ball – the list is endless. Above all is the pitch.
If the long game is a form of art, the pitch is the foundation on which the athletes craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the great game taken to pieces and reassembled in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the wicket which resulted in a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the wicket, causing 36 wickets being taken in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, 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, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the fast men. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling owing to the investment devoted during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are embraced more freely than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were hindered from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – reading the situation and responding appropriately. The two highest individual innings were made by acknowledged batters. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the devotees who have endured a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the MCG, a sea of people celebrated and chanted, producing a carnival vibe in a heartland of national pride.
There was hope as the attack dominated, momentum when players fought back, and pure joy when the victory was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has form with pitch problems. In the past, a game there featured a strip with all the life of a a non-event.
That fixture was a grind, with few wickets and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the range – both are not the standard, yet significance can be attached to both.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the end of the long game at all," said a past champion. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been treated to some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this match, the captain talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The squad delivered for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his persona.
New faces performed with vital performances. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a foundation to develop from.
In the end, this Melbourne victory joins other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters left into a stunning sunset, the team assembled on the turf to commence their own festivities.
Celebrate the win, men. You've earned this one.
