Within a glass case on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a neon pink outfit performed in by the pop star. The performance in front of 100,024 fans was considered a success.
Perhaps you don't enjoy his music. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music known to man. You might take a balanced view, admitting that some hits are fantastic while others are poor.
The key argument is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to create music or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by the environment.
The elements, the time of day, the red ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the pitch.
If the format is art, the pitch is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the established format broken apart and reconstructed in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the pitch which resulted in a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the surface, resulting in 36 wickets falling in less than two days, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The format is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and counting. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball moves excessively for the fast men. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling because of the patience made during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The True Test
Some factors are tolerated more freely than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the conditions and adapting accordingly. The best individual contributions were made by world-class stars. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the supporters who have endured a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the MCG, thousands waved their flags and created an atmosphere, producing a carnival vibe in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the fielding side dominated, impetus when players fought back, and unconditional love when the win was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a game there featured a strip with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a slog, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that slow Test are extreme ends of the scale – neither ideal, yet historical weight can be found in each.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the history books.
"It's not the death of Test cricket at all," commented a veteran. "Fans who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been treated to some real entertainment. A unique show."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this match, the skipper talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The team delivered for him, bringing back the smile to his countenance.
Emerging talents stepped up with key contributions. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to secure long-term futures, but something to develop from.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the fans left into a stunning sunset, the squad gathered on the turf to commence their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, boys. You've earned this one.
