Displayed inside a showcase on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a vibrant pink suit performed in by the pop star. The performance in front of a hundred thousand spectators was hailed as a major hit.
You might not enjoy his music. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music known to man. You might take a reasonable stance, conceding that some hits are fantastic while others are poor.
The central idea is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is no one way to craft music or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on external factors.
The climate, the time of day, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the wicket.
If the long game is art, the wicket is the foundation on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport broken apart and reassembled in an unusual manner.
This is not a justification of the pitch which produced a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Having a thick layer on the pitch, causing numerous dismissals tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The format is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and ongoing. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating due to the time committed during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Certain variables are tolerated more easily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were unable from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the wicket and responding accordingly. The two highest individual innings were made by acknowledged stars. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the fans who have endured years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the stadium, countless fans made noise and sang their songs, producing a festive mood in a bastion of sport.
There was belief as the attack dominated, impetus when the top order responded, and unconditional love when the victory was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with pitch problems. In the past, a game there featured a pitch with all the life of a a non-event.
That contest was a slog, with few wickets and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that slow Test are extreme ends of the range – one is not more the standard, yet historical weight can be attached to them.
At this stage into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the death of the format at all," commented a past champion. "The people who have been fortunate to see these short time have been given some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this match, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The players delivered for him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his persona.
New faces stepped up with vital performances. These are small positives, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term stability, but something to build on.
At the very least, this triumph joins other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters departed into a stunning sunset, the players gathered on the field to begin their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, boys. You've earned this one.
