Displayed inside a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a vibrant pink ensemble worn by the pop star. The show in front of a massive crowd of spectators was seen as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't like his music. Maybe you feel he is the finest offering to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some hits are belting while others are terrible.
The central idea is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is not a single method to craft music or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by the environment.
The weather, the hour of play, the ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the playing surface.
If the long game is a form of art, the strip is the foundation on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport dismantled and reconstructed in abstract form.
This is not a endorsement of the surface which yielded a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Leaving a thick layer on the surface, resulting in numerous dismissals falling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and still growing. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball does all sorts for the fast men. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting owing to the investment committed during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are accepted more easily than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the contest was tipped too far towards the attack. That the top batters were prevented from showcasing their talents.
The format is about finding solutions – reading the situation and adjusting accordingly. The best individual contributions were made by world-class batters. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the supporters who have endured a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the stadium, thousands made noise and chanted, producing a carnival vibe in a stronghold of sport.
There was optimism as the bowlers dominated, impetus when players scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the win was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has form with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a game there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a non-event.
That match was a slog, with limited drama and slow play. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – neither perfect, yet significance can be ascribed to each.
Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the history books.
"This isn't the demise of the format at all," commented a former player. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been given some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The players responded for him, bringing back the smile to his face.
Emerging talents delivered with vital performances. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to ensure long-term success, but a foundation to build on.
In the end, this Melbourne victory joins other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the fans departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players gathered on the outfield to start their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, lads. You've earned this one.
