Within a glass case on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a electric pink suit performed in by the pop star. His performance in front of 100,024 spectators was considered a triumph.
You might not appreciate the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, admitting that some tracks are fantastic while others are terrible.
The central idea is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is no one way to produce literature or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on conditions.
The weather, the time of day, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the wicket.
If the long game is a form of art, the wicket is the foundation on which the players craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the established format dismantled and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the surface which yielded a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Having a thick layer on the wicket, resulting in 36 wickets being taken in less than two days, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence 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.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and still growing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the ball does all sorts for the seamers. Other times, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting because of the patience devoted in other matches.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are tolerated more readily than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the conditions and adapting effectively. The two highest individual innings were made by world-class stars. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the supporters who have suffered a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the ground, a sea of people celebrated and chanted, fostering a party atmosphere in a heartland of sport.
There was optimism as the fielding side surged, momentum when batters fought back, and unconditional love when the result was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has form with pitch problems. In the past, a match there featured a wicket with all the life of a a non-event.
That match was a grind, with limited drama and slow play. This recent match and that previous match are extreme ends of the spectrum – one is not more the standard, yet value can be ascribed to them.
At this stage into the current series, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the memory.
"Far from being the death of Test cricket at all," commented a veteran. "The people who have been privileged to see these short time have been treated to some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this match, the skipper talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The squad protected him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his face.
New faces stepped up with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to ensure long-term futures, but something to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this triumph takes its place among other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans left into a beautiful night, the players congregated on the field to begin their own festivities.
Celebrate the win, men. This victory was hard-fought.
