Within a showcase on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a neon pink outfit donned by the pop star. The concert in front of 100,024 fans was seen as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't appreciate his music. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, admitting that some songs are fantastic while others are terrible.
The central idea is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no one way to produce art or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by the environment.
The elements, the hour of play, the ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the playing surface.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the foundation on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport dismantled and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
This is not a endorsement of the surface which resulted in a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Allowing excessive grass on the pitch, causing a cascade of wickets being taken in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
The format is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and counting. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Other times, it spins sharply on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The close matches are particularly captivating owing to the time committed during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Some factors are tolerated more easily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were hindered from showcasing their talents.
The format is about finding solutions – interpreting the wicket and adjusting effectively. The two highest individual innings were made by acknowledged stars. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the fans who have suffered years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the MCG, thousands made noise and created an atmosphere, producing a party atmosphere in a stronghold of national pride.
There was belief as the fielding side excelled, impetus when batters responded, and rapturous celebration when the victory was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with controversial surfaces. In the past, a Test there featured a wicket with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a slog, with minimal action and slow play. This recent match and that previous match are extreme ends of the range – neither the standard, yet historical weight can be attached to both.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the history books.
"It's not the death of the format at all," observed a past champion. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been given some real entertainment. A unique show."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this match, the leader spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The players responded for him, reinstating the smile to his face.
Emerging talents delivered with vital performances. These are small positives, hardly enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a starting point to develop from.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory is added to other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players gathered on the turf to start their own festivities.
Savour the moment, boys. It's well deserved.
