Within a showcase on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a neon pink ensemble donned by the pop star. His concert in front of a hundred thousand spectators was hailed as a success.
Perhaps you don't appreciate the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, conceding that some tracks are excellent while others are awful.
The point being is that amusement can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to create music or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by external factors.
The elements, the hour of play, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the wicket.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the athletes create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport dismantled and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
This is not a endorsement of the pitch which resulted in a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Leaving a thick layer on the surface, leading to 36 wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
The format is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and still growing. At times, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Other times, it grips and turns on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are particularly captivating due to the time devoted in other matches.
Adaptation: The True Test
Specific conditions are accepted more freely than others.
The debate in during the match was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the top batters were prevented from showcasing their talents.
The format is about finding solutions – assessing the situation and adapting accordingly. The top two individual innings were made by recognized players. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the supporters who have endured a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the ground, a sea of people celebrated and created an atmosphere, fostering a festive mood in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the attack excelled, impetus when batters responded, and unconditional love when the victory was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has form with difficult wickets. In the past, a Test there featured a pitch with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a slog, with few wickets and slow play. The latest encounter and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the scale – both are not ideal, yet significance can be found in them.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the history books.
"Far from being the death of the format at all," observed a past champion. "Fans who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been treated to some real entertainment. A unique show."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this match, the skipper talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The team responded for him, restoring the joy to his countenance.
New faces delivered with vital performances. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to ensure long-term futures, but something to develop from.
Ultimately, this MCG win is added to other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad congregated on the turf to start their own festivities.
Celebrate the win, boys. You've earned this one.
