Displayed inside a glass case on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a electric pink ensemble worn by the pop star. The show in front of a massive crowd of fans was considered a triumph.
Perhaps you don't enjoy the performer. You might think he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a middle ground, conceding that some tracks are excellent while others are terrible.
The central idea is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to produce music or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by conditions.
The weather, the time of day, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the playing surface.
If the format is a form of art, the wicket is the foundation on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport taken to pieces and stuck back together in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the wicket which produced a win and the another short match of the contest.
Allowing a thick layer on the wicket, causing numerous dismissals being taken in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The long game is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and counting. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Sometimes, it turns square on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting owing to the time committed elsewhere.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are accepted more readily than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the top batters were prevented from showcasing their talents.
The format is about problem solving – interpreting the conditions and adapting accordingly. The best individual innings were made by recognized players. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the devotees who have endured a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the stadium, countless fans made noise and chanted, generating a festive mood in a stronghold of sport.
There was optimism as the attack surged, advantage when batters scored quickly, and pure joy when the victory was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with controversial surfaces. In the past, a Test there featured a strip with the character of a a damp squib.
That match was a marathon, with few wickets and slow play. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the spectrum – both are not the standard, yet value can be found in each.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the memory.
"Far from being the end of the long game at all," commented a veteran. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these two days have been experienced some genuine drama. A unique show."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.
The squad responded for him, bringing back the smile to his persona.
New faces delivered with crucial roles. These are small positives, not nearly enough to ensure long-term futures, but a foundation to develop from.
In the end, this Melbourne victory is added to other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd departed into a stunning sunset, the players gathered on the outfield to begin their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, boys. You've earned this one.
