Within a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a electric pink outfit worn by the pop star. His show in front of a hundred thousand fans was hailed as a triumph.
You might not like his music. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, conceding that some hits are excellent while others are terrible.
The central idea is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to produce literature or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon conditions.
The elements, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the wicket.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the strip is the canvas on which the cricketers create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the established format dismantled and stuck back together in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the surface which resulted in a triumph and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Leaving a thick layer on the surface, resulting in numerous dismissals tumbling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The format is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and counting. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the ball moves excessively for the seamers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting owing to the investment committed elsewhere.
Adjustment: The True Test
Some factors are accepted more readily than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were unable from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about finding solutions – reading the situation and responding effectively. The two highest individual innings were made by acknowledged stars. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the devotees who have experienced a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the ground, a sea of people celebrated and sang their songs, producing a party atmosphere in a heartland of national pride.
There was hope as the bowlers surged, impetus when batters scored quickly, and pure joy when the victory was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with controversial surfaces. In the past, a match there featured a wicket with all the life of a a non-event.
That contest was a slog, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that previous match are polar opposites of the spectrum – one is not more ideal, yet value can be ascribed to both.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the history books.
"It's not the demise of the format at all," commented a past champion. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these short time have been treated to some real entertainment. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this Test, the leader talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.
The team responded for him, restoring the joy to his face.
New faces performed with key contributions. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to ensure long-term futures, but a starting point to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this MCG win takes its place among other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd left into a beautiful night, the players gathered on the turf to commence their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, men. It's well deserved.
