In a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a vibrant pink suit donned by the pop star. His show in front of a hundred thousand attendees was considered a success.
You might not like his music. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music in history. Or you could adopt a middle ground, conceding that some songs are excellent while others are poor.
The point being is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no one way to produce literature or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by external factors.
The elements, the time of day, the ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the pitch.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the blank slate on which the players craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the established format broken apart and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the pitch which resulted in a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Having excessive grass on the pitch, resulting in 36 wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is mistaken.
The format is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and counting. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. In contrast, it turns square on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are even more exciting due to the time made in other matches.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Some factors are tolerated more readily than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the best players were unable from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – assessing the conditions and adjusting appropriately. The top two individual scores were made by recognized players. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the devotees who have suffered years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the stadium, a sea of people celebrated and created an atmosphere, generating a festive mood in a stronghold of sport.
There was belief as the fielding side surged, momentum when batters scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the victory was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has form with difficult wickets. In the past, a Test there featured a wicket with all the life of a a non-event.
That fixture was a grind, with few wickets and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that slow Test are extreme ends of the range – neither perfect, yet significance can be ascribed to both.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the memory.
"This isn't the end of Test cricket at all," observed a veteran. "The people who have been privileged to see these two days have been treated to some genuine drama. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: 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 mind.
The squad delivered for him, bringing back the smile to his persona.
Emerging talents delivered with key contributions. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to secure long-term success, but a foundation to use as a platform.
At the very least, this MCG win takes its place among other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans left into a beautiful night, the squad assembled on the field to commence their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, men. You've earned this one.
