In a glass case on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a neon pink outfit donned by the pop star. The show in front of a hundred thousand spectators was considered a success.
You might not like his music. You might think he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, admitting that some songs are belting while others are terrible.
The key argument is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is not a single method to produce art or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on the environment.
The elements, the session, the ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the pitch.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the blank slate on which the players craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the established format dismantled and reassembled in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the surface which resulted in a triumph and the second two-day Test of the series.
Leaving a thick layer on the pitch, leading to numerous dismissals tumbling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
The format is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and ongoing. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Other times, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The close matches are even more exciting because of the time made elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Some factors are tolerated more easily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the best players were unable from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the situation and responding appropriately. The best individual scores were made by recognized batters. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
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, a sea of people waved their flags and sang their songs, fostering a festive mood in a bastion of national pride.
There was optimism as the bowlers surged, momentum when the top order responded, and pure joy when the result was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has form with controversial surfaces. In the past, a Test there featured a strip with all the life of a a non-event.
That fixture was a slog, with few wickets and slow play. The two-day game and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the range – neither the standard, yet value can be ascribed to them.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the demise of the format at all," said a veteran. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been experienced some genuine drama. A unique show."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The squad responded for him, reinstating the joy to his countenance.
New faces stepped up with vital performances. These are small positives, not nearly enough to secure long-term success, but a starting point to use as a platform.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory joins other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd slipped away into a beautiful night, the team gathered on the outfield to begin their own festivities.
Savour the moment, men. It's well deserved.
