Within a glass case on the third floor of the MCG sits a electric pink ensemble performed in by the pop star. His concert in front of 100,024 fans was considered a major hit.
Perhaps you don't enjoy his music. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music in history. Or you could adopt a balanced view, acknowledging that some hits are belting while others are awful.
The point being is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to produce art or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon the environment.
The climate, the session, the ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the wicket.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the great game dismantled and reassembled in abstract form.
This is not a justification of the pitch which yielded a win and the another short match of the series.
Having excessive grass on the pitch, leading to a cascade of wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is incorrect.
The long game is a varied portfolio, a long history and counting. At times, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling owing to the patience made during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are tolerated more readily than others.
The debate in during the match was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the best players were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about problem solving – reading the situation and adapting effectively. The two highest individual contributions were made by acknowledged players. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the devotees who have experienced years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the ground, thousands waved their flags and chanted, generating a party atmosphere in a stronghold of national pride.
There was belief as the bowlers excelled, momentum when players scored quickly, and unconditional love when the victory was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a pitch with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a slog, with few wickets and endless boredom. This recent match and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the spectrum – both are not ideal, yet historical weight can be found in each.
At this stage into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the memory.
"Far from being the demise of the format at all," commented a past champion. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these two days have been experienced some real entertainment. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The squad delivered for him, bringing back the smile to his face.
New faces delivered with crucial roles. These are small positives, hardly enough to secure long-term success, but a starting point to build on.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters slipped away into a beautiful night, the players assembled on the field to start their own festivities.
Savour the moment, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
