In a display cabinet on the third floor of the MCG is housed a neon pink outfit performed in by the pop star. The performance in front of a massive crowd of attendees was considered a success.
It's possible you enjoy his music. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. You might take a balanced view, acknowledging that some hits are fantastic while others are awful.
The point being is that enjoyment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is no one way to produce literature or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on conditions.
The weather, the time of day, the ball – the list is endless. Most important is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the pitch is the foundation on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport dismantled and reassembled in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the pitch which resulted in a victory and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Leaving excessive grass on the surface, leading to numerous dismissals tumbling in less than two days, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The long game is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and still growing. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are even more exciting due to the patience made during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Some factors are accepted more freely than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the top batters were prevented from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – assessing the situation and adjusting accordingly. The two highest individual innings were made by recognized players. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the fans who have suffered years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the ground, thousands made noise and chanted, producing a festive mood in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the fielding side dominated, momentum when players fought back, and rapturous celebration when the victory was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has form with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a match there featured a strip with the character of a a non-event.
That fixture was a slog, with limited drama and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that previous match are polar opposites of the scale – both are not perfect, yet value can be found in each.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the history books.
"It's not the death of the long game at all," commented a veteran. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been experienced some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The players protected him, reinstating the joy to his persona.
New faces stepped up with key contributions. These are small positives, not nearly enough to ensure long-term futures, but a starting point to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this triumph joins other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans slipped away into a beautiful night, the squad gathered on the outfield to begin their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, men. It's well deserved.
