In a glass case on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a neon pink ensemble worn by the pop star. The show in front of a hundred thousand fans was hailed as a major hit.
You might not like his music. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music in history. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, conceding that some songs are excellent while others are awful.
The key argument is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to craft literature or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon external factors.
The climate, the session, the red ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the pitch.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the strip is the canvas on which the athletes 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 traditional sport broken apart and reconstructed in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the pitch which resulted in a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Allowing excessive grass on the wicket, resulting in a cascade of wickets falling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
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 inauthentic, is incorrect.
The long game is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and still growing. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the fast men. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling due to the investment committed during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Some factors are embraced more freely than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were unable from showcasing their talents.
The format is about adapting to challenges – reading the wicket and adjusting accordingly. The two highest individual innings were made by recognized batters. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Try telling the devotees who have suffered a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the ground, thousands waved their flags and created an atmosphere, fostering a carnival vibe in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the bowlers dominated, momentum when batters scored quickly, and unconditional love when the victory was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has form with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a game there featured a wicket with the character of a a non-event.
That contest was a grind, with limited drama and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that slow Test are polar opposites of the range – both are not perfect, yet value can be attached to each.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the history books.
"Far from being the death of the long game at all," commented a veteran. "The people who have been fortunate to see these two days have been experienced some real entertainment. A unique show."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this Test, the skipper talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The squad delivered for him, bringing back the smile to his face.
Emerging talents performed with crucial roles. These are small positives, hardly enough to guarantee long-term stability, but something to build on.
Ultimately, this triumph is added to other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd slipped away into a beautiful night, the squad assembled on the field to commence their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
