Displayed inside a glass case on the elevated floor of the MCG rests a electric pink ensemble donned by the pop star. His show in front of a hundred thousand fans was considered a triumph.
You might not appreciate the performer. Maybe you feel he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, conceding that some hits are fantastic while others are poor.
The key argument is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is not a single method to create art or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on external factors.
The climate, the session, the red ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the wicket.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the players craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport taken to pieces and stuck back together in abstract form.
This is not a justification of the surface which resulted in a win and the second two-day Test of the series.
Having excessive grass on the surface, leading to 36 wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is mistaken.
The format is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and counting. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the fast men. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are all the more thrilling due to the investment committed in other matches.
Adaptation: The True Test
Some factors are tolerated more freely than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were unable from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the situation and adjusting accordingly. The top two individual scores were made by world-class stars. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the devotees who have endured years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the MCG, a sea of people celebrated and chanted, producing a party atmosphere in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the bowlers dominated, impetus when batters responded, and pure joy when the result was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a match there featured a strip with all the life of a a damp squib.
That contest was a grind, with limited drama and slow play. The two-day game and that slow Test are extreme ends of the spectrum – neither ideal, yet value can be ascribed to them.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the memory.
"This isn't the death of the format at all," commented a veteran. "Fans who have been privileged to see these short time have been experienced some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this Test, the captain spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The players protected him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his face.
Emerging talents stepped up with vital performances. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a starting point to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this MCG win is added to other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd left into a beautiful night, the team congregated on the turf to begin their own festivities.
Celebrate the win, boys. It's well deserved.
