Within a display cabinet on the third floor of the MCG rests a neon pink ensemble performed in by the pop star. His performance in front of a massive crowd of attendees was seen as a success.
You might not like his music. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. You might take a middle ground, admitting that some tracks are excellent while others are poor.
The central idea is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to create music or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by external factors.
The weather, the session, the red ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the pitch.
If the format is art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the great game dismantled and reassembled in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the wicket which yielded a victory and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Having a thick layer on the wicket, leading to a cascade of wickets falling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, a long history and counting. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Other times, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The close matches are even more exciting because of the investment devoted during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are accepted more readily than others.
The contention in during the match was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the top batters were hindered from playing their natural game.
The format is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the conditions and adjusting appropriately. The two highest individual innings were made by recognized batters. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the devotees who have suffered years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the stadium, thousands made noise and created an atmosphere, generating a party atmosphere in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the attack dominated, impetus when batters fought back, and unconditional love when the victory was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with difficult wickets. Previously, a Test there featured a wicket with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a slog, with limited drama and slow play. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the spectrum – neither ideal, yet significance can be attached to both.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the history books.
"It's not the death of the long game at all," said a former player. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been experienced some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this match, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The squad delivered for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Different players performed with key contributions. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to secure long-term stability, but a foundation to build on.
Ultimately, this MCG win is added to other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans departed into a stunning sunset, the squad congregated on the field to commence their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, men. You've earned this one.
