Within a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a neon pink outfit worn by the pop star. The performance in front of a hundred thousand spectators was hailed as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't enjoy the performer. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, conceding that some songs are fantastic while others are poor.
The central idea is that amusement can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to produce music or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon external factors.
The elements, the hour of play, the ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the wicket.
If Test cricket is art, the strip is the blank slate on which the players craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the great game broken apart and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the pitch which produced a win and the another short match of the contest.
Allowing excessive grass on the wicket, resulting in numerous dismissals falling in less than two days, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
The format is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and counting. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball moves excessively for the fast men. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling because of the patience devoted elsewhere.
Adjustment: The True Test
Some factors are embraced more easily than others.
The contention in during the match was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about problem solving – reading the situation and adjusting appropriately. The two highest individual scores were made by recognized stars. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Try telling the supporters who have endured a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the MCG, a sea of people waved their flags and created an atmosphere, fostering a carnival vibe in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the attack dominated, advantage when batters responded, and unconditional love when the victory was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with difficult wickets. Previously, a game there featured a pitch with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a marathon, with few wickets and endless boredom. This recent match and that slow Test are extreme ends of the spectrum – one is not more ideal, yet significance can be attached to them.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the demise of the format at all," said a veteran. "The people who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been experienced some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this match, the captain talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The team delivered for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his face.
New faces stepped up with vital performances. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term success, but something to build on.
Ultimately, this triumph takes its place among other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd departed into a stunning sunset, the squad congregated on the turf to commence their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, boys. You've earned this one.
