Within a showcase on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a neon pink ensemble donned by the pop star. His concert in front of a hundred thousand attendees was considered a success.
You might not appreciate his music. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. You might take a middle ground, admitting that some songs are belting while others are poor.
The central idea is that enjoyment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to produce literature or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by the environment.
The elements, the time of day, the red ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the pitch.
If the long game is art, the pitch is the canvas on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the great game broken apart and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the pitch which produced a victory and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the surface, leading to numerous dismissals falling in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and ongoing. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the seamers. Other times, it grips and turns on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are particularly captivating because of the patience devoted elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are embraced more easily than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the contest was tipped too far towards the attack. That the top batters were prevented from showcasing their talents.
The format is about problem solving – reading the wicket and adapting effectively. The top two individual contributions were made by world-class players. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the supporters who have suffered years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the ground, thousands waved their flags and sang their songs, fostering a party atmosphere in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the fielding side surged, advantage when the top order responded, and pure joy when the result was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with pitch problems. Previously, a game there featured a strip with the character of a a non-event.
That fixture was a slog, with minimal action and slow play. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the spectrum – neither the standard, yet historical weight can be ascribed to both.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the memory.
"It's not the death of Test cricket at all," commented a former player. "The people who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been treated to some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this match, the skipper talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The players responded for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Different players delivered with crucial roles. These are small positives, hardly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a foundation to build on.
Ultimately, this triumph joins other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd left into a beautiful night, the team gathered on the outfield to begin their own festivities.
Savour the moment, lads. It's well deserved.