In a glass case on the elevated floor of the MCG sits a neon pink ensemble donned by the pop star. His performance in front of a hundred thousand fans was considered a success.
You might not like his music. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. You might take a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some tracks are fantastic while others are terrible.
The point being is that entertainment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no one way to produce music or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by conditions.
The weather, the time of day, the ball – the list is endless. Above all is the pitch.
If the long game is art, the pitch is the foundation on which the athletes create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport dismantled and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the wicket which produced a victory and the second two-day Test of the series.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the surface, causing numerous dismissals being taken in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is mistaken.
The long game is a diverse canvas, a long history and still growing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are even more exciting due to the patience made elsewhere.
Adaptation: The True Test
Some factors are tolerated more freely than others.
The debate in during the match was that the balance was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the best players were hindered from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the conditions and responding appropriately. The best individual scores were made by acknowledged players. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the supporters who have suffered years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the stadium, thousands waved their flags and created an atmosphere, producing a festive mood in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the fielding side dominated, impetus when players fought back, and unconditional love when the victory was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has form with difficult wickets. In the past, a match there featured a pitch with all the life of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a grind, with minimal action and endless boredom. The two-day game and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the range – both are not perfect, yet historical weight can be attached to each.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the history books.
"Far from being the death of the format at all," said a former player. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been experienced some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this Test, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The team responded for him, reinstating the smile to his countenance.
Different players stepped up with vital performances. These are baby steps, hardly enough to secure long-term success, but a starting point to use as a platform.
In the end, this triumph joins other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd slipped away into a stunning sunset, the squad gathered on the turf to begin their own festivities.
Celebrate the win, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
