In a glass case on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a electric pink suit worn by the pop star. The concert in front of 100,024 attendees was seen as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't like the performer. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music known to man. You might take a balanced view, conceding that some songs are belting while others are poor.
The point being is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to create music or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by conditions.
The weather, the session, the ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the wicket.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the foundation on which the players create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the established format dismantled and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the wicket which yielded a triumph and the second two-day Test of the series.
Having a thick layer on the surface, leading to a cascade of wickets falling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
The format is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and still growing. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Other times, it grips and turns on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are even more exciting due to the patience devoted elsewhere.
Adaptation: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are embraced more freely than others.
The contention in during the match was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were unable from showcasing their talents.
The format is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the wicket and responding effectively. The two highest individual innings were made by acknowledged stars. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the supporters who have suffered 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the stadium, countless fans celebrated and sang their songs, producing a carnival vibe in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the fielding side excelled, impetus when the top order scored quickly, and unconditional love when the result was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with difficult wickets. In the past, a Test there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That contest was a marathon, with limited drama and slow play. This recent match and that previous match are polar opposites of the range – both are not the standard, yet significance can be ascribed to both.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the history books.
"It's not the end of the format at all," observed a past champion. "Fans who have been privileged to see these two days have been treated to some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The team responded for him, restoring the joy to his persona.
New faces stepped up with key contributions. These are small positives, not nearly enough to secure long-term success, but something to build on.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory joins other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters slipped away into a beautiful night, the squad gathered on the outfield to begin their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, lads. It's well deserved.
