In a showcase on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a neon pink outfit worn by the pop star. His show in front of a hundred thousand attendees was seen as a triumph.
You might not enjoy his music. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music in history. You might take a balanced view, acknowledging that some songs are excellent while others are poor.
The point being is that amusement can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is no one way to produce music or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by external factors.
The elements, the session, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Above all is the playing surface.
If the long game is a form of art, the pitch is the canvas on which the athletes create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the established format broken apart and reconstructed in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the pitch which produced a victory and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Allowing a thick layer on the surface, causing a cascade of wickets falling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The format is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and still growing. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling due to the investment made in other matches.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Specific conditions are tolerated more freely than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were unable from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about problem solving – reading the conditions and adjusting effectively. The two highest individual innings were made by world-class stars. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the devotees who have endured years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the stadium, countless fans waved their flags and sang their songs, producing a festive mood in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the fielding side dominated, impetus when players fought back, and pure joy when the win was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with difficult wickets. Previously, a match there featured a pitch with the character of a a non-event.
That match was a marathon, with limited drama and interminable tedium. This recent match and that previous match are extreme ends of the range – neither ideal, yet historical weight can be ascribed to them.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the memory.
"This isn't the death of Test cricket at all," said a veteran. "The people who have been privileged to see these two days have been given some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The squad delivered for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his countenance.
New faces performed with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term success, but something to build on.
Ultimately, this MCG win joins other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad assembled on the turf to start their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
