In a showcase on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a neon pink suit worn by the pop star. His performance in front of 100,024 fans was hailed as a success.
Perhaps you don't appreciate the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. You might take a reasonable stance, conceding that some tracks are belting while others are awful.
The central idea is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no one way to produce literature or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon conditions.
The climate, the hour of play, the ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the pitch.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the strip is the foundation on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the established format dismantled and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the wicket which yielded a win and the another short match of the series.
Having 10mm of grass on the pitch, leading to a cascade of wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The long game is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and counting. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Other times, it spins sharply on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling owing to the time devoted in other matches.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are tolerated more easily than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the top batters were prevented from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the wicket and adapting effectively. The two highest individual innings were made by world-class players. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the fans who have suffered 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the MCG, a sea of people celebrated and created an atmosphere, generating a party atmosphere in a bastion of sport.
There was optimism as the bowlers excelled, momentum when the top order scored quickly, and pure joy when the win was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has form with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That match was a slog, with minimal action and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that previous match are polar opposites of the range – both are not the standard, yet significance can be attached to them.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the memory.
"This isn't the end of the format at all," observed a former player. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these two days have been treated to some genuine drama. A unique show."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The players responded for him, reinstating the joy to his persona.
Different players performed with key contributions. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term success, but a starting point to build on.
In the end, this triumph is added to other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad congregated on the field to commence their own festivities.
Savour the moment, lads. You've earned this one.
