In a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a vibrant pink suit performed in by the pop star. His show in front of a massive crowd of fans was hailed as a success.
Perhaps you don't enjoy his music. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music in history. Or you could adopt a balanced view, admitting that some tracks are fantastic while others are awful.
The key argument is that amusement can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is no one way to craft art or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on conditions.
The weather, the time of day, the red ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the wicket.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the canvas on which the cricketers create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the established format broken apart and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the wicket which resulted in a win and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Leaving excessive grass on the wicket, resulting in a cascade of wickets being taken in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The format is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and counting. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the ball moves excessively for the seamers. In contrast, it turns square on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling because of the time committed during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The True Test
Specific conditions are embraced more easily than others.
The argument in during the match was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the top batters were prevented from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – reading the conditions and adapting appropriately. The top two individual innings were made by world-class stars. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Try telling the devotees who have experienced 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the MCG, thousands waved their flags and created an atmosphere, generating a party atmosphere in a heartland of sport.
There was hope as the bowlers surged, advantage when players responded, and pure joy when the victory was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with controversial surfaces. In the past, a game there featured a strip with all the life of a a non-event.
That match was a slog, with limited drama and interminable tedium. This recent match and that slow Test are polar opposites of the spectrum – neither perfect, yet value can be found in both.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the demise of the long game at all," commented a veteran. "The people who have been privileged to see these short time have been given some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The squad responded for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Emerging talents performed with key contributions. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to secure long-term stability, but something to build on.
At the very least, this triumph joins other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters left into a stunning sunset, the players gathered on the outfield to start their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, men. This victory was hard-fought.
