Displayed inside a showcase on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a electric pink ensemble donned by the pop star. His performance in front of a hundred thousand spectators was considered a major hit.
Perhaps you don't like the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, admitting that some hits are fantastic while others are awful.
The key argument is that enjoyment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is no one way to produce art or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on the environment.
The climate, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Most important is the wicket.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the canvas on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the great game taken to pieces 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 short match of the contest.
Having a thick layer on the wicket, causing 36 wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The long game is a rich tapestry, a long history and ongoing. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Other times, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating owing to the investment made in other matches.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are tolerated more freely than others.
The argument in during the match was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the top batters were unable from showcasing their talents.
The format is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the wicket and responding appropriately. The best individual contributions were made by acknowledged players. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the devotees who have experienced 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the stadium, countless fans waved their flags and sang their songs, generating a festive mood in a bastion of sport.
There was hope as the bowlers dominated, momentum when the top order fought back, and unconditional love when the victory was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with difficult wickets. Previously, a match there featured a pitch with all the life of a a non-event.
That match was a marathon, with few wickets and slow play. This recent match and that slow Test are polar opposites of the scale – neither ideal, yet historical weight can be ascribed to both.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the memory.
"Far from being the demise of the format at all," commented a veteran. "The people who have been privileged to see these two days have been treated to some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The team delivered for him, restoring the smile to his persona.
New faces delivered with vital performances. These are baby steps, hardly enough to ensure long-term stability, but a starting point to develop from.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd left into a stunning sunset, the squad congregated on the field to begin their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, lads. It's well deserved.
