Within a glass case on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a vibrant pink suit worn by the pop star. The show in front of a hundred thousand spectators was seen as a triumph.
Perhaps you don't enjoy his music. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, acknowledging that some songs are belting while others are terrible.
The key argument is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to craft music or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by the environment.
The elements, the hour of play, the red ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the wicket.
If Test cricket is art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the players create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the established format broken apart and stuck back together in abstract form.
This is not a defence of the pitch which yielded a triumph and the second two-day Test of the series.
Leaving excessive grass on the surface, resulting in numerous dismissals being taken in less than two days, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, a long history and counting. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball does all sorts for the seamers. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are all the more thrilling owing to the time made during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The True Test
Specific conditions are tolerated more readily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the best players were prevented from playing their natural game.
The format is about adapting to challenges – reading the conditions and adapting appropriately. The two highest individual innings were made by world-class stars. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the fans who have experienced 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the MCG, thousands celebrated and created an atmosphere, generating a carnival vibe in a heartland of sport.
There was hope as the bowlers surged, momentum when batters responded, and pure joy when the victory was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has form with controversial surfaces. Previously, a game there featured a strip with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a marathon, with limited drama and slow play. The latest encounter and that slow Test are polar opposites of the range – both are not the standard, yet value can be found in them.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the memory.
"It's not the demise of the long game at all," commented a veteran. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these short time have been experienced some real entertainment. A unique show."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this match, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The players responded for him, restoring the joy to his face.
Different players performed with key contributions. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to ensure long-term stability, but something to develop from.
Ultimately, this MCG win is added to other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans left into a stunning sunset, the team gathered on the turf to commence their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, men. You've earned this one.
