In a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a neon pink suit donned by the pop star. His show in front of a hundred thousand spectators was seen as a major hit.
You might not appreciate his music. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a middle ground, acknowledging that some hits are belting while others are poor.
The point being is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to craft art or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon conditions.
The elements, the session, the red ball – the list is endless. Above all is the pitch.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the blank slate on which the players paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport dismantled and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the surface which yielded a victory and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the surface, resulting in a cascade of wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The long game is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and counting. At times, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling because of the time made during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are accepted more readily than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were hindered from playing their natural game.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the wicket and adjusting accordingly. The best individual innings were made by world-class players. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the supporters who have experienced a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the ground, thousands waved their flags and chanted, producing a festive mood in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the attack surged, advantage when players scored quickly, and unconditional love when the result was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with difficult wickets. Previously, a match there featured a wicket with all the life of a a damp squib.
That contest was a slog, with few wickets and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that previous match are polar opposites of the scale – neither the standard, yet historical weight can be attached to both.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the demise of Test cricket at all," commented a former player. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been experienced some genuine drama. A unique show."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this Test, the captain talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The players responded for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Different players performed with key contributions. These are small positives, hardly enough to secure long-term success, but a starting point to build on.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory joins other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team congregated on the turf to start their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, boys. You've earned this one.
