Displayed inside a glass case on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a electric pink outfit donned by the pop star. The performance in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a triumph.
You might not appreciate his music. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music known to man. You might take a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some songs are fantastic while others are terrible.
The central idea is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no one way to produce music or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on external factors.
The elements, the hour of play, the ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the wicket.
If the long game is a form of art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the great game dismantled and stuck back together in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the surface which yielded a triumph and the another short match of the contest.
Having a thick layer on the wicket, resulting in 36 wickets falling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a rich tapestry, a long history and ongoing. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the ball does all sorts for the fast men. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are even more exciting because of the time made elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are tolerated more readily than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the top batters were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the conditions and adjusting accordingly. The best individual contributions were made by recognized stars. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the devotees who have experienced 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the stadium, thousands waved their flags and created an atmosphere, fostering a party atmosphere in a bastion of national pride.
There was hope as the fielding side dominated, advantage when batters fought back, and rapturous celebration when the result was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a pitch with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a slog, with limited drama and slow play. This recent match and that previous match are extreme ends of the scale – neither the standard, yet significance can be found in them.
Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the memory.
"Far from being the demise of Test cricket at all," observed a former player. "The people who have been fortunate to see these short time have been experienced some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The team protected him, restoring the smile to his face.
New faces delivered with crucial roles. These are small positives, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term success, but something to build on.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans departed into a stunning sunset, the players assembled on the field to begin their own festivities.
Celebrate the win, lads. It's well deserved.
