In a showcase on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a neon pink outfit performed in by the pop star. The show in front of a massive crowd of fans was seen as a success.
You might not appreciate his music. You might think he is the greatest gift to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, admitting that some tracks are fantastic while others are awful.
The central idea is that enjoyment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to craft art or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on conditions.
The weather, the time of day, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the wicket.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the canvas on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the established format dismantled and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the pitch which yielded a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Having 10mm of grass on the surface, causing a cascade of wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The long game is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and ongoing. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling owing to the patience made during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Certain variables are embraced more readily than others.
The debate in during the match was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were prevented from showcasing their talents.
The format is about problem solving – reading the conditions and adapting accordingly. The top two individual innings were made by acknowledged stars. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the fans who have experienced a long drought that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the MCG, countless fans celebrated and created an atmosphere, generating a party atmosphere in a bastion of sport.
There was optimism as the bowlers surged, momentum when batters responded, and rapturous celebration when the victory was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with pitch problems. Previously, a game there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a non-event.
That match was a grind, with few wickets and endless boredom. This recent match and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the spectrum – neither the standard, yet historical weight can be attached to them.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the demise of Test cricket at all," observed a former player. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these short time have been treated to some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this Test, the captain spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The squad protected him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his persona.
Emerging talents stepped up with key contributions. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to ensure long-term futures, but a foundation to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory joins other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd slipped away into a beautiful night, the squad congregated on the outfield to begin their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, lads. It's well deserved.
