In a display cabinet on the third floor of the MCG sits a electric pink ensemble worn by the pop star. His performance in front of 100,024 spectators was considered a major hit.
You might not enjoy his music. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a middle ground, acknowledging that some hits are belting while others are poor.
The key argument is that amusement can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is no one way to craft music or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on conditions.
The elements, the time of day, the red ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the pitch.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the foundation on which the players create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the great game broken apart and reconstructed in abstract form.
This is not a justification of the pitch which resulted in a win and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the pitch, leading to numerous dismissals falling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is mistaken.
The format is a rich tapestry, a long history and ongoing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are particularly captivating owing to the time committed during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are tolerated more freely than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the balance was tipped too far towards the attack. That the best players were prevented from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – assessing the situation and adapting effectively. The two highest individual contributions were made by recognized batters. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the fans who have suffered 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the MCG, thousands waved their flags and created an atmosphere, fostering a festive mood in a stronghold of national pride.
There was belief as the bowlers surged, impetus when the top order responded, and rapturous celebration when the win was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a strip with the character of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a slog, with few wickets and interminable tedium. This recent match and that slow Test are polar opposites of the scale – both are not ideal, yet value can be attached to each.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the history books.
"It's not the end of the format at all," commented a veteran. "Fans who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been treated to some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this Test, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The squad delivered for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his persona.
New faces performed with crucial roles. These are small positives, not nearly enough to ensure long-term stability, but a foundation to build on.
In the end, this triumph takes its place among other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans departed into a beautiful night, the squad gathered on the outfield to start their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, boys. It's well deserved.
