In a glass case on the upper level of the MCG is housed a vibrant pink suit worn by the pop star. The performance in front of 100,024 fans was hailed as a success.
You might not appreciate his music. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music in history. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, conceding that some hits are fantastic while others are poor.
The point being is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no one way to produce music or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by external factors.
The weather, the hour of play, the ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the wicket.
If the format is art, the strip is the blank slate on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the great game taken to pieces and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the surface which resulted in a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Allowing a thick layer on the wicket, resulting in 36 wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
The long game is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and ongoing. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball moves excessively for the fast men. Other times, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The close matches are even more exciting because of the time devoted during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are accepted more easily than others.
The debate in during the match was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were hindered from playing their natural game.
The format is about finding solutions – reading the wicket and responding accordingly. The best individual innings were made by recognized batters. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the devotees who have endured a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the MCG, thousands made noise and created an atmosphere, producing a festive mood in a bastion of national pride.
There was optimism as the bowlers dominated, advantage when batters responded, and pure joy when the win was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with difficult wickets. Previously, a game there featured a wicket with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a slog, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – neither perfect, yet value can be found in both.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the history books.
"This isn't the end of Test cricket at all," commented a veteran. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been experienced some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.
The squad protected him, restoring the positive demeanor to his face.
New faces stepped up with key contributions. These are small positives, not nearly enough to ensure long-term stability, but something to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory joins other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters left into a beautiful night, the team gathered on the outfield to commence their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, men. You've earned this one.
