Within a glass case on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a neon pink outfit performed in by the pop star. The show in front of 100,024 attendees was considered a success.
It's possible you appreciate his music. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, conceding that some hits are belting while others are awful.
The central idea is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no one way to create music or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by external factors.
The elements, the session, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the wicket.
If the format is art, the wicket is the foundation on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the great game dismantled and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the surface which yielded a victory and the second two-day Test of the series.
Leaving a thick layer on the surface, resulting in a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The long game is a diverse canvas, a long history and still growing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the ball moves excessively for the seamers. In contrast, it turns square on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are particularly captivating due to the patience made during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The True Test
Some factors are embraced more readily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the balance was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the best players were prevented from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – reading the situation and responding appropriately. The best individual contributions were made by world-class 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 devotees who have endured 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the stadium, countless fans made noise and sang their songs, fostering a carnival vibe in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the attack surged, impetus when players responded, and pure joy when the victory was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with difficult wickets. Previously, a game there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That match was a marathon, with minimal action and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that previous match are polar opposites of the scale – both are not ideal, yet value can be attached to them.
Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the memory.
"This isn't the death of the format at all," commented a former player. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these short time have been experienced some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this Test, the captain talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The squad delivered for him, reinstating the joy to his face.
New faces stepped up with crucial roles. These are small positives, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a foundation to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this triumph is added to other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters departed into a stunning sunset, the players gathered on the turf to begin their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, men. This victory was hard-fought.
