Within a display cabinet on the upper level of the MCG is housed a neon pink suit donned by the pop star. His concert in front of 100,024 attendees was considered a success.
You might not like his music. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a balanced view, acknowledging that some hits are fantastic while others are terrible.
The central idea is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to craft music or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on conditions.
The climate, the hour of play, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the pitch.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the foundation on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the established format taken to pieces and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
This is not a endorsement of the pitch which yielded a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Allowing excessive grass on the wicket, causing a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is incorrect.
The format is a rich tapestry, a long history and ongoing. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it turns square on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling owing to the patience devoted in other matches.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are accepted more easily than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were hindered from showcasing their talents.
The format is about adapting to challenges – reading the conditions and responding appropriately. The top two individual innings were made by world-class players. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the fans who have endured years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the MCG, a sea of people celebrated and sang their songs, producing a party atmosphere in a stronghold of sport.
There was optimism as the bowlers excelled, impetus when batters scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the result was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has form with pitch problems. In the past, a match there featured a wicket with the character of a a non-event.
That match was a grind, with few wickets and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the spectrum – neither the standard, yet historical weight can be found in each.
At this stage into the current series, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the history books.
"This isn't the death of the format at all," said a past champion. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been experienced some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this Test, the captain spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The team responded for him, restoring the joy to his face.
Emerging talents performed with crucial roles. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to secure long-term success, but a foundation to develop from.
In the end, this triumph joins other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players congregated on the turf to begin their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, boys. You've earned this one.
