In a display cabinet on the upper level of the MCG is housed a vibrant pink suit worn by the pop star. His performance in front of a massive crowd of spectators was considered a triumph.
You might not enjoy the performer. You might think he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, admitting that some songs are excellent while others are poor.
The point being is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to create music or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by conditions.
The elements, the hour of play, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the wicket.
If the format is a form of art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport dismantled and reassembled in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the pitch which yielded a win and the another short match of the contest.
Allowing excessive grass on the pitch, resulting in numerous dismissals falling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The format is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and counting. At times, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Other times, it spins sharply on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are even more exciting owing to the investment committed elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Some factors are embraced more easily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the top batters were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about problem solving – assessing the wicket and adjusting appropriately. The top two individual scores were made by world-class stars. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the devotees who have experienced 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the MCG, a sea of people celebrated and sang their songs, producing a carnival vibe in a bastion of national pride.
There was belief as the bowlers surged, advantage when batters responded, and rapturous celebration when the result was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has form with pitch problems. Previously, a match there featured a strip with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a grind, with minimal action and endless boredom. This recent match and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the scale – neither ideal, yet value can be ascribed to them.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the end of the format at all," said a former player. "The people who have been fortunate to see these two days have been given some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The squad delivered for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his persona.
New faces delivered with crucial roles. These are small positives, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a foundation to develop from.
At the very least, this MCG win joins other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad gathered on the field to commence their own festivities.
Celebrate the win, men. It's well deserved.
