In a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a neon pink ensemble donned by the pop star. His concert in front of a massive crowd of spectators was considered a major hit.
Perhaps you don't appreciate the performer. Maybe you feel he is the finest offering to music in history. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, admitting that some songs are excellent while others are awful.
The point being is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is not a single method to create art or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon external factors.
The climate, the session, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Most important is the wicket.
If the format is art, the strip is the foundation on which the cricketers create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the established format dismantled and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the wicket which produced a win and the second two-day Test of the series.
Having 10mm of grass on the wicket, resulting in numerous dismissals falling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
The format is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and ongoing. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the ball does all sorts for the seamers. Other times, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are particularly captivating because of the investment devoted elsewhere.
Adjustment: The True Test
Certain variables are accepted more easily than others.
The argument in during the match was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the top batters were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about finding solutions – reading the wicket and responding appropriately. The top two individual scores were made by world-class batters. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the devotees who have experienced years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the stadium, countless fans waved their flags and chanted, generating a party atmosphere in a heartland of national pride.
There was hope as the fielding side excelled, advantage when batters responded, and unconditional love when the result was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a game there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a non-event.
That contest was a grind, with few wickets and slow play. This recent match and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – neither perfect, yet value can be attached to them.
At this stage into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the memory.
"This isn't the end of the long game at all," observed a veteran. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been experienced some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this Test, the captain talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The team protected him, reinstating the smile to his persona.
New faces stepped up with crucial roles. These are small positives, hardly enough to secure long-term futures, but a starting point to develop from.
In the end, this Melbourne victory is added to other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans left into a beautiful night, the squad congregated on the field to commence their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, men. This victory was hard-fought.
