Within a display cabinet on the upper level of the MCG rests a vibrant pink suit donned by the pop star. His concert in front of a hundred thousand spectators was considered a major hit.
It's possible you appreciate the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music in history. You might take a middle ground, acknowledging that some songs are fantastic while others are awful.
The key argument is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to craft music or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on external factors.
The weather, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the pitch.
If the long game is a form of art, the wicket is the canvas on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the great game dismantled and reassembled in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the pitch which resulted in a victory and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Having a thick layer on the wicket, resulting in numerous dismissals being taken in less than two days, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The format is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and ongoing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the fast men. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling owing to the time committed in other matches.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are accepted more easily than others.
The argument in during the match was that the balance was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were hindered from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the wicket and adjusting accordingly. The two highest individual contributions were made by recognized stars. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the supporters who have experienced a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the ground, thousands celebrated and sang their songs, producing a festive mood in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the fielding side excelled, advantage when players scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the win was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has form with pitch problems. Previously, a Test there featured a strip with all the life of a a damp squib.
That match was a marathon, with limited drama and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that slow Test are polar opposites of the spectrum – one is not more perfect, yet historical weight can be attached to both.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the history books.
"It's not the death of the format at all," observed a past champion. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been treated to some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this match, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The team responded for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his face.
Different players performed with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a foundation to use as a platform.
In the end, this MCG win joins other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters slipped away into a beautiful night, the team congregated on the turf to commence their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, men. You've earned this one.
