In a display cabinet on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a neon pink outfit worn by the pop star. His concert in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a triumph.
Perhaps you don't appreciate his music. Maybe you feel he is the finest offering to music in history. Or you could adopt a middle ground, acknowledging that some tracks are belting while others are awful.
The central idea is that entertainment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no one way to produce music or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by external factors.
The climate, the time of day, the red ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the pitch.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the canvas on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the established format taken to pieces and reassembled in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the surface which resulted in a triumph and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the pitch, resulting in numerous dismissals falling in less than two days, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The format is a diverse canvas, a long history and still growing. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating because of the investment devoted during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Certain variables are embraced more freely than others.
The debate in during the match was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about adapting to challenges – reading the wicket and adjusting effectively. The top two individual innings were made by world-class stars. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the supporters who have suffered 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the stadium, countless fans made noise and sang their songs, generating a party atmosphere in a heartland of national pride.
There was belief as the fielding side excelled, momentum when batters fought back, and unconditional love when the win was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has form with pitch problems. In the past, a Test there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a grind, with minimal action and interminable tedium. This recent match and that previous match are polar opposites of the range – neither perfect, yet value can be ascribed to them.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the death of Test cricket at all," commented a veteran. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been treated to some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this match, the skipper talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The team protected him, reinstating the smile to his persona.
Emerging talents performed with crucial roles. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a foundation to develop from.
Ultimately, this MCG win is added to other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd left into a beautiful night, the team congregated on the field to start their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, boys. You've earned this one.
