Within a showcase on the upper level of the MCG is housed a neon pink ensemble donned by the pop star. His performance in front of a massive crowd of attendees was seen as a triumph.
Perhaps you don't like the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. You might take a middle ground, acknowledging that some songs are belting while others are awful.
The central idea is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no one way to produce art or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by conditions.
The climate, the hour of play, the ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the playing surface.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the blank slate on which the athletes craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the established format dismantled and reassembled in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the surface which yielded a triumph and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Leaving excessive grass on the surface, resulting in numerous dismissals being taken in less than two days, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The long game is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and still growing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling owing to the patience made during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Some factors are embraced more easily than others.
The argument in during the match was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were hindered from playing their natural game.
The format is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the wicket and adapting effectively. The top two individual contributions were made by world-class stars. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the devotees who have suffered a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the MCG, thousands celebrated and created an atmosphere, generating a carnival vibe in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the bowlers surged, momentum when players responded, and rapturous celebration when the victory was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with difficult wickets. Previously, a Test there featured a strip with the character of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a grind, with few wickets and slow play. This recent match and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the range – one is not more the standard, yet value can be attached to them.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the memory.
"It's not the death of Test cricket at all," said a veteran. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these two days have been given some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The squad responded for him, reinstating the smile to his persona.
Different players delivered with key contributions. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a starting point to use as a platform.
In the end, this MCG win is added to other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters departed into a beautiful night, the players assembled on the outfield to begin their own festivities.
Savour the moment, boys. You've earned this one.
