In a glass case on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a neon pink outfit donned by the pop star. The concert in front of 100,024 attendees was seen as a major hit.
You might not enjoy his music. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music in history. You might take a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some songs are excellent while others are poor.
The central idea is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to produce music or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon external factors.
The elements, the hour of play, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the playing surface.
If the format is a form of art, the pitch is the foundation on which the players craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport dismantled and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
This is not a defence of the surface which produced a victory and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Having 10mm of grass on the surface, leading to 36 wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and counting. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Other times, it turns square on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are even more exciting because of the time made during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Some factors are tolerated more readily than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the best players were unable from playing their natural game.
The format is about adapting to challenges – assessing the wicket and adapting appropriately. The two highest individual innings were made by world-class players. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the devotees who have experienced a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the ground, a sea of people celebrated and created an atmosphere, generating a party atmosphere in a stronghold of sport.
There was belief as the attack excelled, advantage when players responded, and rapturous celebration when the result was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with pitch problems. In the past, a game there featured a wicket with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a marathon, with minimal action and endless boredom. This recent match and that slow Test are extreme ends of the spectrum – one is not more ideal, yet value can be ascribed to both.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the history books.
"Far from being the death of the format at all," said a past champion. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been given some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this match, the leader spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The team protected him, restoring the positive demeanor to his persona.
Different players delivered with key contributions. These are small positives, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term stability, but something to use as a platform.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory is added to other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team congregated on the turf to start their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, lads. It's well deserved.
