Displayed inside a showcase on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a neon pink outfit worn by the pop star. The concert in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a major hit.
It's possible you appreciate the performer. Maybe you feel he is the finest offering to music known to man. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, admitting that some hits are belting while others are awful.
The point being is that entertainment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no one way to produce literature or even the longest format.
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 reliant upon conditions.
The climate, the hour of play, the ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the pitch.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the blank slate on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport dismantled and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the wicket which yielded a triumph and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Leaving a thick layer on the surface, causing a cascade of wickets falling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and still growing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the fast men. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The close matches are even more exciting owing to the patience made during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Some factors are embraced more readily than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the best players were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about adapting to challenges – assessing the conditions and adapting appropriately. The two highest individual contributions were made by acknowledged stars. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Try telling the supporters who have suffered years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the ground, thousands made noise and chanted, generating a festive mood in a heartland of sport.
There was belief as the attack dominated, impetus when the top order fought back, and rapturous celebration when the victory was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has form with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a game there featured a wicket with all the life of a a damp squib.
That contest was a slog, with minimal action and interminable tedium. This recent match and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the range – neither perfect, yet value can be found in them.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the memory.
"It's not the death of Test cricket at all," commented a former player. "The people who have been privileged to see these two days have been experienced some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The players responded for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his persona.
Different players performed with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term stability, but something to develop from.
In the end, this MCG win joins other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the fans departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team gathered on the field to begin their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, lads. You've earned this one.
