Within a showcase on the upper level of the MCG rests a neon pink suit donned by the pop star. The show in front of 100,024 spectators was seen as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't like the performer. You might think he is the ultimate present to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, conceding that some tracks are belting while others are poor.
The point being is that amusement can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is not a single method to produce art or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on external factors.
The weather, the time of day, the ball – the list is endless. Most important is the playing surface.
If the format is a form of art, the wicket is the foundation on which the players paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the great game taken to pieces and stuck back together in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the wicket which produced a triumph and the another short match of the series.
Having 10mm of grass on the surface, leading to numerous dismissals being taken in less than two days, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The format is a diverse canvas, a long history and counting. At times, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Sometimes, it turns square on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating due to the investment committed during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Certain variables are tolerated more freely than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were prevented from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – reading the conditions and adjusting accordingly. The two highest individual scores were made by world-class players. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the fans who have suffered years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the MCG, countless fans waved their flags and sang their songs, producing a party atmosphere in a heartland of national pride.
There was optimism as the fielding side surged, advantage when the top order scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the result was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a strip with all the life of a a non-event.
That fixture was a grind, with few wickets and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the scale – both are not ideal, yet value can be attached to them.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the history books.
"This isn't the demise of the format at all," observed a veteran. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been treated to some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this Test, the captain talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The team delivered for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his face.
Emerging talents performed with key contributions. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to ensure long-term futures, but a starting point to build on.
In the end, this triumph takes its place among other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the fans slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players gathered on the field to start their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, men. This victory was hard-fought.
