In a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a neon pink ensemble worn by the pop star. The performance in front of a massive crowd of spectators was hailed as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't appreciate his music. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Or you could adopt a balanced view, conceding that some songs are excellent while others are terrible.
The point being is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no one way to produce music or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon conditions.
The weather, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the wicket.
If the format is a form of art, the pitch is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the great game taken to pieces and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the wicket which resulted in a triumph and the another short match of the series.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the surface, resulting in numerous dismissals falling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The long game is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and still growing. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball does all sorts for the fast men. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are even more exciting owing to the time devoted elsewhere.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Some factors are tolerated more freely than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the best players were unable from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the wicket and responding effectively. The top two individual innings were made by world-class batters. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the devotees who have suffered a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the stadium, thousands made noise and chanted, fostering a party atmosphere in a heartland of national pride.
There was belief as the fielding side dominated, impetus when the top order scored quickly, and unconditional love when the result was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a marathon, with limited drama and interminable tedium. This recent match and that slow Test are polar opposites of the spectrum – both are not ideal, yet significance can be found in each.
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 Test cricket at all," observed a past champion. "Fans who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been experienced some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this Test, the captain spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The team delivered for him, reinstating the smile to his face.
Different players delivered with key contributions. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to ensure long-term futures, but a starting point to build on.
In the end, this triumph joins other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters departed into a stunning sunset, the players gathered on the outfield to begin their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, boys. It's well deserved.
