Within a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the MCG rests a neon pink suit donned by the pop star. The concert in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a success.
It's possible you enjoy the performer. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, conceding that some songs are belting while others are awful.
The point being is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is not a single method to create art or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on the environment.
The elements, the hour of play, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the wicket.
If the format is a form of art, the strip is the foundation on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the established format taken to pieces and reassembled in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the wicket which produced a triumph and the another short match of the series.
Having excessive grass on the pitch, resulting in numerous dismissals falling in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence 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 mistaken.
The long game is a diverse canvas, a long history and still growing. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball does all sorts for the seamers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The close matches are even more exciting due to the time made during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Certain variables are embraced more freely than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the contest was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the best players were hindered from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the situation and adapting effectively. The two highest individual scores were made by world-class batters. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the supporters who have suffered years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the ground, countless fans celebrated and sang their songs, generating a carnival vibe in a heartland of national pride.
There was optimism as the attack dominated, momentum when batters fought back, and pure joy when the victory was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has form with difficult wickets. Previously, a Test there featured a wicket with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a marathon, with limited drama and endless boredom. This recent match and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the scale – one is not more ideal, yet significance can be ascribed to both.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the memory.
"It's not the death of the long game at all," said a former player. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been treated to some genuine drama. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this Test, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The team protected him, reinstating the smile to his face.
Different players performed with key contributions. These are baby steps, hardly enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a foundation to build on.
In the end, this Melbourne victory is added to other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd left into a stunning sunset, the squad assembled on the outfield to begin their own festivities.
Savour the moment, boys. It's well deserved.
