In a display cabinet on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a neon pink suit performed in by the pop star. His show in front of a massive crowd of fans was hailed as a success.
You might not enjoy the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music known to man. You might take a balanced view, acknowledging that some hits are belting while others are awful.
The point being is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no one way to produce art or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on the environment.
The climate, the hour of play, the ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the wicket.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the canvas on which the athletes create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the established format broken apart and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
This is not a endorsement of the pitch which produced a win and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Allowing a thick layer on the wicket, causing 36 wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: 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 wide of the mark.
The long game is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and still growing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it turns square on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling due to the patience devoted in other matches.
Adaptation: The True Test
Some factors are accepted more freely than others.
The debate in during the match was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the top batters were unable from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the conditions and adjusting appropriately. The top two individual innings were made by recognized stars. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Try telling the fans who have suffered years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the MCG, a sea of people celebrated and created an atmosphere, generating a festive mood in a heartland of sport.
There was optimism as the attack excelled, impetus when batters scored quickly, and pure joy when the victory was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with pitch problems. In the past, a game there featured a wicket with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a marathon, with few wickets and slow play. This recent match and that previous match are extreme ends of the range – both are not perfect, yet historical weight can be ascribed to both.
Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the memory.
"It's not the death of the format at all," said a former player. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these short time have been treated to some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this match, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The players protected him, restoring the joy to his countenance.
Emerging talents stepped up with vital performances. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a starting point to use as a platform.
At the very least, this triumph is added to other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad assembled on the field to start their own festivities.
Celebrate the win, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
