Within a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a vibrant pink suit performed in by the pop star. His show in front of a hundred thousand attendees was seen as a triumph.
Perhaps you don't enjoy his music. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music in history. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, admitting that some tracks are fantastic while others are awful.
The point being is that enjoyment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to produce art or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on the environment.
The climate, the session, the ball – the list is endless. Above all is the playing surface.
If the long game is art, the strip is the foundation on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the established format taken to pieces and reconstructed in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the surface which yielded a win and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Leaving excessive grass on the surface, causing 36 wickets falling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and ongoing. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball does all sorts for the fast men. Other times, it spins sharply on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are all the more thrilling because of the patience made elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are tolerated more easily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the best players were unable from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about problem solving – reading the wicket and responding appropriately. The best individual contributions were made by world-class batters. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the devotees who have suffered a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the stadium, thousands made noise and created an atmosphere, fostering a carnival vibe in a stronghold of sport.
There was optimism as the fielding side excelled, impetus when players responded, and pure joy when the result was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with difficult wickets. In the past, a match there featured a wicket with the character of a a damp squib.
That match was a marathon, with minimal action and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that previous match are extreme ends of the spectrum – neither ideal, yet value can be found in each.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the history books.
"Far from being the death of the format at all," commented a veteran. "The people who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been experienced some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this match, the leader spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The squad protected him, bringing back the joy to his persona.
Emerging talents delivered with crucial roles. These are small positives, hardly enough to guarantee long-term success, but something to use as a platform.
In the end, this Melbourne victory is added to other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans slipped away into a beautiful night, the players gathered on the outfield to start their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, men. You've earned this one.
