Displayed inside a showcase on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a electric pink ensemble donned by the pop star. The concert in front of a massive crowd of attendees was seen as a success.
It's possible you like his music. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, conceding that some hits are belting while others are awful.
The point being is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is not a single method to craft art or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by the environment.
The climate, the time of day, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reassembled in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the wicket which yielded a victory and the another short match of the series.
Having a thick layer on the surface, resulting in 36 wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a varied portfolio, a long history and counting. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the ball moves excessively for the fast men. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating owing to the time devoted during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are tolerated more readily than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the best players were hindered from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about finding solutions – reading the wicket and adjusting effectively. The top two individual contributions were made by recognized batters. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the fans who have experienced 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the ground, a sea of people celebrated and created an atmosphere, producing a carnival vibe in a bastion of sport.
There was hope as the bowlers excelled, advantage when players responded, and rapturous celebration when the win was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with controversial surfaces. Previously, a game there featured a strip with the character of a a non-event.
That fixture was a grind, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – both are not ideal, yet historical weight can be attached to each.
At this stage into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the memory.
"Far from being the end of the format at all," commented a past champion. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been given some genuine drama. A unique show."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The team delivered for him, reinstating the smile to his persona.
New faces stepped up with crucial roles. These are baby steps, hardly enough to ensure long-term stability, but something to develop from.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the fans slipped away into a beautiful night, the squad assembled on the outfield to begin their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
