In a display cabinet on the upper level of the MCG rests a electric pink suit performed in by the pop star. The concert in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a triumph.
It's possible you like the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music known to man. You might take a balanced view, conceding that some hits are excellent while others are terrible.
The key argument is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no one way to produce art or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on conditions.
The climate, the session, the ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the pitch.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the foundation on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the great game taken to pieces and stuck back together in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the surface which resulted in a triumph and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Leaving a thick layer on the pitch, leading to 36 wickets falling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The format is a diverse canvas, a long history and ongoing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the ball does all sorts for the seamers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are even more exciting due to the investment devoted during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are accepted more easily than others.
The argument in during the match was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the best players were unable from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the conditions and adapting accordingly. The two highest individual scores were made by recognized players. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Try telling the devotees who have suffered years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the ground, thousands made noise and chanted, generating a carnival vibe in a stronghold of national pride.
There was belief as the attack dominated, advantage when batters fought back, and rapturous celebration when the victory was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has a history with pitch problems. Previously, a game there featured a wicket with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a marathon, with limited drama and interminable tedium. This recent match and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the spectrum – both are not ideal, yet historical weight can be found in each.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the memory.
"Far from being the end of the long game at all," said a former player. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been experienced some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this match, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The team responded for him, restoring the smile to his countenance.
Emerging talents performed with vital performances. These are small positives, certainly not enough to secure long-term futures, but something to use as a platform.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory joins other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team assembled on the turf to start their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
