In a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a vibrant pink outfit worn by the pop star. The performance in front of a hundred thousand spectators was hailed as a triumph.
It's possible you like the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music in history. You might take a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some hits are excellent while others are awful.
The central idea is that enjoyment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no one way to create music or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by conditions.
The climate, the session, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the great game broken apart and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
This is not a endorsement of the wicket which resulted in a triumph and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Having a thick layer on the pitch, causing 36 wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is mistaken.
The long game is a diverse canvas, a long history and counting. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the cricket 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 bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are particularly captivating because of the time committed during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The True Test
Certain variables are embraced more freely than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the best players were hindered from playing their natural game.
The format is about finding solutions – reading the situation and adapting effectively. The top two individual contributions were made by acknowledged batters. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the devotees who have suffered a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the stadium, a sea of people made noise and created an atmosphere, fostering a festive mood in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the fielding side dominated, impetus when the top order fought back, and unconditional love when the victory was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a game there featured a pitch with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a grind, with minimal action and slow play. This recent match and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the spectrum – neither perfect, yet historical weight can be attached to them.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the death of the long game at all," said a veteran. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been treated to some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The players delivered for him, reinstating the smile to his persona.
New faces stepped up with crucial roles. These are small positives, certainly not enough to ensure long-term success, but a starting point to build on.
In the end, this triumph takes its place among other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players gathered on the outfield to commence their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, men. This victory was hard-fought.
