In a display cabinet on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a vibrant pink ensemble performed in by the pop star. His concert in front of a hundred thousand fans was seen as a major hit.
It's possible you enjoy his music. You might think he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a balanced view, conceding that some songs are excellent while others are awful.
The point being is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to craft music or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by conditions.
The climate, the time of day, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the pitch.
If the long game is art, the pitch is the foundation on which the players paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the great game broken apart and stuck back together in abstract form.
This is not a justification of the wicket which resulted in a triumph and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Allowing a thick layer on the wicket, causing numerous dismissals falling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and counting. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the fast men. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting due to the investment committed during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are tolerated more easily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were unable from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – assessing the situation and responding accordingly. The best individual innings were made by acknowledged stars. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the devotees who have endured years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the ground, thousands waved their flags and chanted, fostering a party atmosphere in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the attack surged, impetus when batters fought back, and rapturous celebration when the win was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with difficult wickets. In the past, a game there featured a strip with all the life of a a damp squib.
That contest was a marathon, with limited drama and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that previous match are extreme ends of the range – one is not more perfect, yet historical weight can be attached to both.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the memory.
"Far from being the demise of Test cricket at all," commented a veteran. "The people who have been privileged to see these short time have been experienced some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The players protected him, bringing back the joy to his persona.
New faces delivered with crucial roles. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term stability, but something to build on.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory joins other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters departed into a beautiful night, the team assembled on the turf to begin their own festivities.
Savour the moment, men. You've earned this one.
