Within a showcase on the third floor of the MCG rests a neon pink outfit performed in by the pop star. The performance in front of a hundred thousand spectators was considered a success.
You might not like the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music in history. Or you could adopt a balanced view, acknowledging that some songs are belting while others are terrible.
The key argument is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no one way to create literature or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on conditions.
The elements, the time of day, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is art, the wicket is the canvas on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the established format dismantled and stuck back together in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the pitch which yielded a triumph and the second two-day Test of the series.
Leaving excessive grass on the surface, leading to numerous dismissals falling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
The long game is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and ongoing. At times, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Other times, it turns square on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are all the more thrilling owing to the patience made during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are embraced more readily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the top batters were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the conditions and responding accordingly. The top two individual scores were made by recognized players. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the supporters who have experienced 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the MCG, thousands waved their flags and sang their songs, generating a party atmosphere in a bastion of national pride.
There was optimism as the fielding side dominated, impetus when batters fought back, and pure joy when the win was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a game there featured a strip with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a slog, with few wickets and slow play. This recent match and that previous match are extreme ends of the scale – both are not perfect, yet significance can be found in both.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the death of the format at all," observed a past champion. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been treated to some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The team delivered for him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his persona.
Emerging talents stepped up with key contributions. These are small positives, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a starting point to develop from.
Ultimately, this MCG win is added to other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team gathered on the turf to commence their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, boys. You've earned this one.
