In a glass case on the third floor of the MCG rests a vibrant pink outfit worn by the pop star. The concert in front of a hundred thousand fans was hailed as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't appreciate the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music in history. Or you could adopt a balanced view, conceding that some songs are belting while others are terrible.
The central idea is that amusement can take many forms. You like what you like. There is no one way to create art or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon conditions.
The weather, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the wicket.
If the long game is art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the players create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the established format dismantled and reassembled in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the pitch which resulted in a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Having a thick layer on the pitch, causing a cascade of wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is incorrect.
The format is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and ongoing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Other times, it grips and turns on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are particularly captivating owing to the time devoted during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Some factors are embraced more easily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were unable from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about problem solving – assessing the wicket and responding accordingly. The top two individual innings were made by world-class stars. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the fans who have endured a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the ground, thousands waved their flags and chanted, producing a carnival vibe in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the fielding side dominated, impetus when the top order fought back, and rapturous celebration when the result was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has a history with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a game there featured a pitch with the character of a a damp squib.
That match was a slog, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the scale – neither the standard, yet value can be attached to both.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the history books.
"This isn't the demise of the long game at all," said a former player. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these two days have been experienced some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this Test, the captain talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The team protected him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his face.
Emerging talents delivered with key contributions. These are small positives, not nearly enough to ensure long-term success, but a starting point to build on.
Ultimately, this MCG win takes its place among other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd slipped away into a beautiful night, the team congregated on the outfield to commence their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, men. This victory was hard-fought.
