In a glass case on the elevated floor of the MCG rests a electric pink ensemble performed in by the pop star. The concert in front of a hundred thousand attendees was seen as a success.
You might not enjoy his music. You might think he is the finest offering to music in history. Or you could adopt a middle ground, acknowledging that some songs are belting while others are awful.
The point being is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to craft art or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult 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. Crucially is the wicket.
If the long game is art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the pitch which produced a triumph and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Leaving excessive grass on the wicket, resulting in numerous dismissals falling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and still growing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Other times, it grips and turns on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating owing to the investment made elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are accepted more freely than others.
The contention in Melbourne 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 adapting to challenges – reading the conditions and adapting accordingly. The two highest individual contributions were made by recognized stars. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Try telling the devotees who have endured a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the stadium, thousands made noise and sang their songs, generating a party atmosphere in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the attack excelled, advantage when players scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the result was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with controversial surfaces. In the past, a match there featured a pitch with the character of a a non-event.
That fixture was a slog, with minimal action and endless boredom. The two-day game and that slow Test are extreme ends of the scale – one is not more the standard, yet value can be found in both.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the memory.
"This isn't the end of Test cricket at all," said a past champion. "Fans who have been privileged to see these short time have been experienced some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The players responded for him, restoring the joy to his face.
New faces delivered with key contributions. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a foundation to build on.
In the end, this triumph is added to other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team congregated on the turf to start their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, lads. You've earned this one.
