Within a showcase on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a neon pink ensemble worn by the pop star. The performance in front of a massive crowd of spectators was considered a triumph.
You might not appreciate his music. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, acknowledging that some tracks are belting while others are awful.
The key argument is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no one way to produce music or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on external factors.
The elements, the time of day, the ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the wicket.
If the long game is a form of art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the established format broken apart and reassembled in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the pitch which resulted in a victory and the another short match of the contest.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the wicket, resulting in numerous dismissals tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, a long history and ongoing. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it turns square on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are particularly captivating due to the investment committed elsewhere.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Some factors are embraced more easily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the best players were hindered from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the conditions and adapting effectively. The two highest individual contributions were made by recognized batters. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the fans who have suffered 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the ground, a sea of people celebrated and created an atmosphere, producing a party atmosphere in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the fielding side excelled, momentum when the top order fought back, and unconditional love when the win was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has a history with difficult wickets. Previously, a match there featured a wicket with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a slog, with limited drama and slow play. The two-day game and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the scale – one is not more the standard, yet value can be ascribed to them.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the death of the long game at all," commented a former player. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been treated to some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this Test, the captain spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The squad delivered for him, restoring the smile to his face.
Different players delivered with crucial roles. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to ensure long-term stability, but something to use as a platform.
In the end, this Melbourne victory is added to other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters departed into a stunning sunset, the players congregated on the field to start their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
