Within a showcase on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a neon pink outfit donned by the pop star. The show in front of a massive crowd of fans was considered a major hit.
You might not appreciate his music. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music known to man. You might take a middle ground, admitting that some songs are fantastic while others are poor.
The central idea is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to craft art or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on external factors.
The weather, the time of day, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Above all is the pitch.
If the long game is art, the wicket is the canvas on which the players craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the pitch which resulted in a victory and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Allowing a thick layer on the pitch, causing 36 wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The format is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and counting. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. Other times, it turns square on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are particularly captivating because of the time committed in other matches.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are tolerated more easily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were hindered from playing their natural game.
The format is about adapting to challenges – assessing the conditions and responding accordingly. The two highest individual scores were made by recognized players. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the fans who have experienced 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the MCG, countless fans celebrated and created an atmosphere, producing a party atmosphere in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the fielding side surged, advantage when batters fought back, and unconditional love when the result was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has form with controversial surfaces. In the past, a match there featured a wicket with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a slog, with minimal action and endless boredom. This recent match and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the range – one is not more perfect, yet historical weight can be ascribed to each.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the death of Test cricket at all," commented a veteran. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been treated to some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The players protected him, restoring the smile to his countenance.
Different players delivered with key contributions. These are small positives, certainly not enough to ensure long-term success, but a foundation to build on.
In the end, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters slipped away into a beautiful night, the players gathered on the field to commence their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, lads. You've earned this one.
