In a display cabinet on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a electric pink outfit performed in by the pop star. His show in front of a massive crowd of spectators was hailed as a triumph.
Perhaps you don't appreciate the performer. You might think he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some tracks are excellent while others are poor.
The central idea is that enjoyment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is no one way to create music or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on external factors.
The weather, the time of day, the ball – the list is endless. Above all is the pitch.
If the long game is art, the pitch is the canvas on which the athletes create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the great game broken apart and stuck back together in abstract form.
This is not a justification of the wicket which produced a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Allowing excessive grass on the wicket, leading to numerous dismissals being taken in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a rich tapestry, a long history and counting. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. Other times, it turns square on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling due to the patience devoted during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are tolerated more easily than others.
The debate in during the match was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about finding solutions – reading the conditions and adapting accordingly. The two highest individual scores were made by acknowledged players. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the fans who have endured years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the ground, a sea of people celebrated and chanted, fostering a festive mood in a stronghold of national pride.
There was hope as the bowlers excelled, momentum when players responded, and unconditional love when the result was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with controversial surfaces. Previously, a match there featured a pitch with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a slog, with minimal action and endless boredom. This recent match and that slow Test are polar opposites of the scale – neither the standard, yet value can be ascribed to them.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the history books.
"It's not the demise of Test cricket at all," observed a former player. "The people who have been fortunate to see these two days have been treated to some genuine drama. A unique show."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The players protected him, restoring the smile to his face.
Emerging talents delivered with key contributions. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to secure long-term success, but a starting point to use as a platform.
At the very least, this triumph joins other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans left into a stunning sunset, the squad congregated on the turf to commence their own festivities.
Savour the moment, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
