In a showcase on the upper level of the MCG is housed a vibrant pink outfit performed in by the pop star. His performance in front of a massive crowd of attendees was considered a major hit.
Perhaps you don't appreciate his music. You might think he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. You might take a middle ground, conceding that some songs are belting while others are terrible.
The point being is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no one way to create music or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by external factors.
The climate, the time of day, the red ball – the list is endless. Above all is the pitch.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the strip is the blank slate on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport dismantled and reassembled in an unusual manner.
This is not a justification of the surface which yielded a victory and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the wicket, causing a cascade of wickets falling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is incorrect.
The format is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and counting. At times, as seen at the MCG, the ball does all sorts for the fast men. Other times, it turns square on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling owing to the investment committed elsewhere.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Some factors are embraced more freely than others.
The debate in during the match was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the attack. That the best players were unable from playing their natural game.
Test cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the conditions and adapting accordingly. The top two individual innings were made by acknowledged stars. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the supporters who have experienced years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the ground, countless fans waved their flags and created an atmosphere, producing a carnival vibe in a bastion of national pride.
There was hope as the fielding side surged, impetus when players fought back, and rapturous celebration when the win was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has form with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a non-event.
That contest was a grind, with minimal action and slow play. The latest encounter and that previous match are polar opposites of the range – neither perfect, yet historical weight can be attached to them.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the history books.
"Far from being the end of Test cricket at all," said a past champion. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been treated to some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this Test, the captain talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The squad delivered for him, bringing back the smile to his persona.
Different players performed with key contributions. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to ensure long-term futures, but a starting point to build on.
At the very least, this triumph is added to other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players assembled on the field to begin their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, boys. It's well deserved.
