In a showcase on the upper level of the MCG sits a electric pink ensemble performed in by the pop star. His performance in front of a hundred thousand fans was seen as a triumph.
Perhaps you don't enjoy the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, admitting that some songs are fantastic while others are poor.
The point being is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to produce literature or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon the environment.
The climate, the hour of play, the red ball – the list is endless. Most important is the wicket.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the strip is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the established format dismantled and reassembled in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the pitch which produced a victory and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Having a thick layer on the wicket, resulting in 36 wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, a long history and still growing. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball moves excessively for the fast men. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are even more exciting because of the time committed during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are accepted more freely than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were prevented from showcasing their talents.
The format is about adapting to challenges – assessing the conditions and adjusting accordingly. The best individual scores were made by recognized players. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Go and inform the devotees who have experienced years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the ground, a sea of people waved their flags and chanted, producing a festive mood in a heartland of national pride.
There was optimism as the bowlers surged, advantage when the top order scored quickly, and pure joy when the victory was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with difficult wickets. In the past, a match there featured a pitch with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a grind, with limited drama and slow play. The two-day game and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the spectrum – one is not more perfect, yet value can be attached to each.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the demise of the format at all," said a former player. "The people who have been fortunate to see these short time have been given some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this match, the captain talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.
The squad protected him, restoring the positive demeanor to his persona.
Emerging talents delivered with key contributions. These are small positives, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term success, but a starting point to build on.
In the end, this MCG win takes its place among other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd left into a beautiful night, the players gathered on the field to begin their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, men. This victory was hard-fought.
