Within a glass case on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a neon pink ensemble worn by the pop star. The concert in front of a hundred thousand fans was hailed as a major hit.
You might not enjoy his music. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music in history. Or you could adopt a middle ground, conceding that some hits are belting while others are terrible.
The point being is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to craft music or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on external factors.
The climate, the hour of play, the red ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the playing surface.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the foundation on which the cricketers create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport dismantled and reassembled in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the pitch which produced a victory and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Having 10mm of grass on the wicket, resulting in numerous dismissals falling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and still growing. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting owing to the patience devoted elsewhere.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are accepted more freely than others.
The contention in during the match was that the balance was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were prevented from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about problem solving – reading the situation and adapting effectively. The best individual contributions were made by recognized batters. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the supporters who have experienced 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the stadium, a sea of people made noise and created an atmosphere, generating a party atmosphere in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the fielding side excelled, impetus when players responded, and unconditional love when the win was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a game there featured a pitch with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a marathon, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – one is not more the standard, yet significance can be found in each.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the history books.
"Far from being the demise of the long game at all," said a past champion. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been treated to some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this match, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.
The players delivered for him, bringing back the joy to his countenance.
Emerging talents stepped up with key contributions. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a starting point to develop from.
In the end, this MCG win is added to other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans left into a beautiful night, the team assembled on the outfield to start their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
