Displayed inside a showcase on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a electric pink suit worn by the pop star. The performance in front of 100,024 fans was seen as a triumph.
You might not like his music. You might think he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, conceding that some tracks are belting while others are awful.
The point being is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no one way to craft music or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on external factors.
The elements, the time of day, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the pitch.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the wicket is the canvas on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the established format dismantled and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the surface which produced a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Having 10mm of grass on the wicket, resulting in a cascade of wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, a long history and ongoing. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball moves excessively for the fast men. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The close matches are particularly captivating due to the investment devoted during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are accepted more readily than others.
The debate in during the match was that the contest was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the best players were unable from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the wicket and adjusting accordingly. The best individual scores were made by acknowledged stars. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the fans who have experienced 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the ground, thousands made noise and created an atmosphere, producing a carnival vibe in a heartland of sport.
There was optimism as the attack excelled, advantage when batters fought back, and pure joy when the result was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with difficult wickets. In the past, a Test there featured a strip with the character of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a marathon, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the spectrum – one is not more ideal, yet value can be found in both.
At this stage into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the death of the format at all," said a past champion. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these two days have been experienced some real entertainment. A unique show."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this Test, the leader talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The players protected him, reinstating the smile to his countenance.
Emerging talents performed with vital performances. These are small positives, certainly not enough to ensure long-term stability, but something to develop from.
In the end, this MCG win joins other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd left into a stunning sunset, the team congregated on the turf to begin their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, boys. You've earned this one.
