In a glass case on the third floor of the MCG is housed a vibrant pink ensemble donned by the pop star. His concert in front of 100,024 fans was seen as a major hit.
It's possible you like his music. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music known to man. You might take a reasonable stance, admitting that some songs are fantastic while others are terrible.
The key argument is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to produce art or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by external factors.
The elements, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the playing surface.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the canvas on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the great game taken to pieces and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the wicket which resulted in a win and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Allowing excessive grass on the pitch, leading to 36 wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, a long history and counting. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are particularly captivating owing to the time committed elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are embraced more readily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the balance was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the best players were prevented from showcasing their talents.
The format is about finding solutions – assessing the conditions and adapting appropriately. The two highest individual innings were made by world-class stars. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Try telling the fans who have suffered a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the ground, countless fans made noise and created an atmosphere, generating a festive mood in a stronghold of national pride.
There was belief as the attack excelled, impetus when the top order fought back, and pure joy when the win was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has form with controversial surfaces. Previously, a game there featured a strip with the character of a a non-event.
That fixture was a slog, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that previous match are polar opposites of the spectrum – both are not the standard, yet value can be found in them.
Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the history books.
"This isn't the death of the format at all," commented a past champion. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been treated to some genuine drama. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this match, the leader talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The team delivered for him, restoring the joy to his face.
New faces stepped up with key contributions. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to ensure long-term stability, but a foundation to develop from.
At the very least, this triumph joins other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad gathered on the field to start their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, lads. You've earned this one.
