Displayed inside a showcase on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a neon pink outfit worn by the pop star. His show in front of 100,024 spectators was considered a major hit.
It's possible you like his music. You might think he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, admitting that some songs are fantastic while others are poor.
The point being is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is not a single method to craft art or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon external factors.
The weather, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the wicket.
If the format is a form of art, the strip is the canvas on which the athletes create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the established format broken apart and stuck back together in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the wicket which yielded a triumph and the another short match of the contest.
Having excessive grass on the pitch, resulting in 36 wickets being taken in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
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 wide of the mark.
The format is a diverse canvas, a long history and counting. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the fast men. Other times, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are particularly captivating due to the patience committed during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are tolerated more readily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the wicket and adjusting accordingly. The best individual contributions were made by acknowledged players. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Go and inform the supporters who have suffered years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the MCG, thousands celebrated and created an atmosphere, producing a carnival vibe in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the attack dominated, impetus when the top order fought back, and rapturous celebration when the result was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a pitch with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a grind, with minimal action and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that previous match are polar opposites of the scale – both are not the standard, yet significance can be ascribed to both.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the memory.
"Far from being the death of the format at all," observed a past champion. "The people who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been experienced some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The players protected him, restoring the positive demeanor to his persona.
Different players performed with key contributions. These are small positives, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term success, but a foundation to develop from.
At the very least, this triumph is added to other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd departed into a beautiful night, the team congregated on the turf to commence their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, men. You've earned this one.
