In a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a vibrant pink suit donned by the pop star. The concert in front of a hundred thousand attendees was seen as a triumph.
You might not appreciate his music. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, admitting that some songs are belting while others are terrible.
The central idea is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to produce music or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by external factors.
The elements, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the playing surface.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the foundation on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the great game taken to pieces and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the surface which yielded a victory and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Having 10mm of grass on the wicket, resulting in a cascade of wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, a long history and still growing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Other times, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are particularly captivating due to the time devoted during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Certain variables are accepted more readily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – assessing the conditions and responding effectively. The top two individual scores were made by world-class players. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the devotees who have endured a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the stadium, thousands waved their flags and chanted, generating a festive mood in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the fielding side dominated, impetus when the top order scored quickly, and unconditional love when the win was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with controversial surfaces. In the past, a Test there featured a wicket with the character of a a damp squib.
That match was a marathon, with limited drama and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – neither ideal, yet value can be found in them.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the death of Test cricket at all," commented a former player. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been experienced some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this Test, the captain spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The squad protected him, restoring the joy to his persona.
New faces delivered with vital performances. These are baby steps, hardly enough to ensure long-term stability, but a starting point to build on.
Ultimately, this MCG win is added to other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd slipped away into a beautiful night, the squad congregated on the outfield to commence their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, boys. You've earned this one.
