In a display cabinet on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a vibrant pink suit worn by the pop star. The concert in front of a hundred thousand attendees was hailed as a major hit.
It's possible you enjoy his music. You might think he is the greatest gift to music in history. Or you could adopt a middle ground, conceding that some hits are excellent while others are awful.
The central idea is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is not a single method to create art or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon the environment.
The elements, the time of day, the ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the pitch.
If the format is a form of art, the pitch is the canvas on which the players create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport taken to pieces and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
This is not a justification of the pitch which yielded a victory and the another short match of the contest.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the pitch, leading to 36 wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and still growing. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. In contrast, it turns square on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The close matches are even more exciting because of the time devoted during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are tolerated more freely than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the top batters were prevented from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the situation and adapting appropriately. The best individual innings were made by acknowledged players. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Try telling the supporters who have endured 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the stadium, thousands made noise and chanted, producing a carnival vibe in a bastion of sport.
There was optimism as the attack dominated, momentum when players scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the victory was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a strip with the character 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 range – neither ideal, yet historical weight can be attached to both.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the memory.
"This isn't the demise of the long game at all," observed a veteran. "Fans who have been privileged to see these short time have been treated to some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this Test, the leader talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The squad protected him, bringing back the joy to his face.
Emerging talents performed with vital performances. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to ensure long-term success, but a starting point to build on.
In the end, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd departed into a beautiful night, the squad assembled on the outfield to commence their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, boys. It's well deserved.
