Displayed inside a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a neon pink outfit worn by the pop star. His concert in front of 100,024 fans was considered a success.
You might not appreciate his music. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. You might take a middle ground, acknowledging that some tracks are fantastic while others are poor.
The key argument is that enjoyment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is not a single method to craft art or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by conditions.
The climate, the hour of play, the ball – the list is endless. Most important is the wicket.
If Test cricket is art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, 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 sub-three-day finish of the series.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the pitch, leading to a cascade of 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 suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The long game is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and ongoing. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the ball moves excessively for the fast men. Other times, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling due to the investment committed elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are embraced more easily than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were unable from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about adapting to challenges – reading the situation and adjusting accordingly. The top two individual contributions were made by world-class stars. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the supporters who have suffered a long drought that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the ground, countless fans waved their flags and chanted, generating a festive mood in a bastion of national pride.
There was optimism as the bowlers dominated, impetus when the top order fought back, and unconditional love when the result was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has a history with difficult wickets. In the past, a match there featured a pitch with all the life of a a damp squib.
That match was a marathon, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the spectrum – neither the standard, yet historical weight can be ascribed to each.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the death of the format at all," said a past champion. "The people who have been privileged to see these two days have been treated to some real entertainment. A unique show."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this match, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The players responded for him, bringing back the joy to his persona.
Emerging talents performed with crucial roles. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to ensure long-term futures, but a foundation to develop from.
In the end, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad congregated on the field to commence their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, boys. It's well deserved.
