In a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a electric pink outfit performed in by the pop star. His concert in front of a massive crowd of fans was hailed as a success.
It's possible you enjoy his music. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music in history. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some songs are belting while others are poor.
The central idea is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no one way to create music or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on external factors.
The climate, the hour of play, the red ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the playing surface.
If the long game is art, the strip is the foundation on which the athletes create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport dismantled and reassembled in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the surface which produced a win and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Having excessive grass on the wicket, leading to a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
The format is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and counting. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Other times, it turns square on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are even more exciting because of the patience made elsewhere.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are tolerated more readily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the attack. That the top batters were unable from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the situation and responding effectively. The two highest individual contributions were made by acknowledged players. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the devotees who have experienced years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the ground, countless fans celebrated and created an atmosphere, generating a party atmosphere in a stronghold of national pride.
There was optimism as the attack excelled, impetus when batters scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the win was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a strip with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a grind, with few wickets and interminable tedium. This recent match and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the range – both are not the standard, yet historical weight can be found in them.
At this stage into the current series, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the demise of the long game at all," observed a veteran. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these two days have been experienced some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this Test, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The team delivered for him, reinstating the smile to his face.
Emerging talents performed with key contributions. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to ensure long-term futures, but something to build on.
Ultimately, this triumph is added to other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd left into a beautiful night, the team congregated on the outfield to commence their own festivities.
Savour the moment, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
