Within a glass case on the upper level of the MCG is housed a electric pink ensemble donned by the pop star. The concert in front of a massive crowd of attendees was seen as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't like the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music in history. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some hits are excellent while others are awful.
The central idea is that enjoyment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to craft literature or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon the environment.
The elements, the session, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the canvas on which the cricketers create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the great game taken to pieces and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
This is not a defence of the wicket which resulted in a victory and the another short match of the series.
Having 10mm of grass on the pitch, leading to 36 wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is incorrect.
The long game is a rich tapestry, a long history and ongoing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the ball moves excessively for the fast men. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling due to the patience devoted during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are embraced more easily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the top batters were unable from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – assessing the wicket and adapting accordingly. The top two individual contributions were made by acknowledged stars. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the fans who have experienced years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the stadium, countless fans waved their flags and created an atmosphere, fostering a festive mood in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the fielding side surged, advantage when the top order scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the victory was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has form with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a match there featured a pitch with all the life of a a non-event.
That match was a grind, with few wickets and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that slow Test are polar opposites of the range – both are not perfect, yet value can be ascribed to both.
Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the history books.
"Far from being the demise of Test cricket at all," commented a former player. "The people who have been fortunate to see these short time have been experienced some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The players responded for him, restoring the smile to his face.
Emerging talents stepped up with crucial roles. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to secure long-term success, but something to develop from.
At the very least, this triumph joins other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd slipped away into a beautiful night, the players congregated on the turf to commence their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, lads. You've earned this one.
