Within a glass case on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a vibrant pink suit performed in by the pop star. His show in front of 100,024 fans was considered a triumph.
You might not enjoy the performer. You might think he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, conceding that some hits are belting while others are poor.
The key argument is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is no one way to craft music or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon the environment.
The elements, the hour of play, the ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the playing surface.
If the format is art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the players create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport dismantled and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the wicket which yielded a win and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Allowing a thick layer on the wicket, causing 36 wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
The long game is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and counting. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Other times, it turns square on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting because of the time made elsewhere.
Adaptation: The True Test
Specific conditions are tolerated more freely than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the balance was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the top batters were prevented from showcasing their talents.
The format is about finding solutions – reading the wicket and adapting appropriately. The two highest individual scores were made by acknowledged players. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Try telling the fans who have suffered 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the MCG, a sea of people waved their flags and sang their songs, producing a carnival vibe in a stronghold of national pride.
There was hope as the attack surged, advantage when batters fought back, and unconditional love when the result was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with difficult wickets. Previously, a match there featured a pitch with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a slog, with limited drama and endless boredom. This recent match and that previous match are polar opposites of the spectrum – one is not more ideal, yet significance can be ascribed to both.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the memory.
"This isn't the end of the format at all," commented a veteran. "Fans who have been privileged to see these short time have been experienced some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The squad delivered for him, bringing back the joy to his countenance.
New faces delivered with key contributions. These are small positives, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term stability, but something to build on.
In the end, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad congregated on the field to start their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, lads. This victory was hard-fought.