In a showcase on the third floor of the MCG rests a electric pink suit performed in by the pop star. The concert in front of a hundred thousand spectators was hailed as a triumph.
Perhaps you don't appreciate his music. You might think he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, admitting that some songs are belting while others are awful.
The point being is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no one way to create art or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on the environment.
The weather, the time of day, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the pitch.
If the format is art, the pitch is the canvas on which the cricketers create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the great game taken to pieces and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the surface which yielded a triumph and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Allowing excessive grass on the wicket, causing numerous dismissals falling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The long game is a rich tapestry, a long history and counting. At times, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are particularly captivating due to the investment made in other matches.
Adaptation: The True Test
Specific conditions are embraced more easily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the contest was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the best players were hindered from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the situation and adapting effectively. The two highest individual contributions were made by acknowledged stars. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the fans who have endured years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the ground, countless fans made noise and created an atmosphere, producing a party atmosphere in a stronghold of sport.
There was hope as the fielding side dominated, advantage when batters scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the result was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a match there featured a strip with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a slog, with minimal action and slow play. The latest encounter and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the range – one is not more perfect, yet value can be ascribed to each.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the memory.
"Far from being the end of the format at all," commented a veteran. "The people who have been fortunate to see these short time have been experienced some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this match, the captain talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The squad responded for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his face.
Different players performed with crucial roles. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to secure long-term stability, but a starting point to develop from.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory joins other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans departed into a stunning sunset, the squad congregated on the outfield to start their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, boys. You've earned this one.
