Within a glass case on the upper level of the MCG rests a neon pink ensemble performed in by the pop star. The show in front of a hundred thousand attendees was seen as a major hit.
It's possible you enjoy the performer. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, conceding that some tracks are excellent while others are terrible.
The central idea is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no one way to craft art or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on external factors.
The weather, the hour of play, the ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the pitch.
If the format is art, the strip is the canvas on which the athletes create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport dismantled and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the pitch which produced a win and the another short match of the contest.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the pitch, resulting in numerous dismissals being taken in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is incorrect.
The long game is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and counting. At times, as witnessed recently, the ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The close matches are particularly captivating because of the patience made elsewhere.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are accepted more freely than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the best players were unable from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the wicket and responding appropriately. The top two individual contributions were made by recognized batters. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the supporters who have experienced years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the stadium, countless fans made noise and created an atmosphere, generating a carnival vibe in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the bowlers surged, momentum when players responded, and pure joy when the victory was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with pitch problems. Previously, a game there featured a pitch with the character of a a damp squib.
That match was a grind, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that previous match are polar opposites of the scale – neither the standard, yet significance can be attached to each.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the history books.
"It's not the end of Test cricket at all," observed a veteran. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been treated to some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The players delivered for him, bringing back the smile to his persona.
Emerging talents stepped up with vital performances. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a foundation to build on.
In the end, this MCG win takes its place among other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans left into a beautiful night, the team gathered on the outfield to begin their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, men. You've earned this one.
