In a showcase on the elevated floor of the MCG sits a electric pink suit worn by the pop star. His show in front of a hundred thousand spectators was seen as a triumph.
It's possible you like his music. You might think he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Or you could adopt a balanced view, acknowledging that some hits are belting while others are awful.
The central idea is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to create art or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by conditions.
The climate, the session, the red ball – the list is endless. Most important is the pitch.
If the format is a form of art, the wicket is the canvas on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the great game taken to pieces and reconstructed in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the wicket which resulted in a triumph and the second two-day Test of the series.
Allowing a thick layer on the surface, causing a cascade of wickets being taken in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and still growing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Sometimes, it turns square on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating because of the patience made during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The True Test
Certain variables are tolerated more freely than others.
The debate in during the match was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were prevented from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the situation and adjusting appropriately. The top two individual innings were made by recognized stars. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Try telling the fans who have experienced a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the MCG, a sea of people celebrated and sang their songs, producing a party atmosphere in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the attack surged, advantage when the top order fought back, and rapturous celebration when the victory was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has form with difficult wickets. In the past, a match there featured a strip with the excitement of a a non-event.
That contest was a slog, with minimal action and slow play. The latest encounter and that previous match are extreme ends of the spectrum – neither the standard, yet historical weight can be ascribed to each.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the end of the format at all," observed a veteran. "Fans who have been privileged to see these short time have been experienced some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this match, the leader spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The squad delivered for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Different players performed with key contributions. These are baby steps, hardly enough to secure long-term stability, but something to build on.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd slipped away into a stunning sunset, the squad gathered on the turf to commence their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, boys. It's well deserved.
