Within a glass case on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a vibrant pink ensemble donned by the pop star. The performance in front of a hundred thousand spectators was seen as a major hit.
You might not like his music. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, admitting that some tracks are excellent while others are awful.
The key argument is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to create literature or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by the environment.
The weather, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Above all is the pitch.
If the format is a form of art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the players create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the great game broken apart and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
This is not a justification of the surface which produced a triumph and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Leaving a thick layer on the pitch, resulting in a cascade of wickets being taken in less than two days, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Core 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 varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and counting. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Other times, it turns square on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting because of the time made during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Certain variables are tolerated more freely than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the best players were prevented from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the situation and adjusting accordingly. The best individual scores were made by world-class stars. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
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 ground, thousands celebrated and sang their songs, generating a carnival vibe in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the fielding side surged, impetus when players fought back, and unconditional love when the win was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has form with pitch problems. Previously, a game there featured a pitch with the character of a a non-event.
That fixture was a slog, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that slow Test are polar opposites of the scale – both are not ideal, yet value can be attached to each.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the end of Test cricket at all," observed a veteran. "The people who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been treated to some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The team delivered for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his persona.
Different players stepped up with key contributions. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to secure long-term stability, but a foundation to build on.
In the end, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players gathered on the field to begin their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
