Displayed inside a showcase on the upper level of the MCG rests a electric pink ensemble worn by the pop star. The show in front of a hundred thousand fans was seen as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't like his music. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some songs are fantastic while others are awful.
The key argument is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to create literature or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by conditions.
The elements, the session, the ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the pitch.
If Test cricket is art, the wicket is the foundation on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the great game dismantled and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the pitch which resulted in a win and the another short match of the series.
Allowing a thick layer on the wicket, leading to numerous dismissals being taken in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, a long history and ongoing. On occasion, like in Melbourne, 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 spits like a cobra.
The close matches are even more exciting owing to the investment devoted during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Certain variables are tolerated more freely than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the top batters were hindered from showcasing their talents.
The format is about problem solving – assessing the wicket and responding effectively. The two highest individual scores were made by recognized stars. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the fans who have suffered years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the MCG, countless fans celebrated and sang their songs, producing a party atmosphere in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the attack excelled, momentum when the top order fought back, and unconditional love when the result was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has form with controversial surfaces. Previously, a match there featured a pitch with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a grind, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the range – both are not the standard, yet historical weight can be ascribed to each.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the memory.
"Far from being the death of Test cricket at all," said a veteran. "Fans who have been privileged to see these two days have been treated to some genuine drama. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this match, the leader talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The team responded for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Emerging talents performed with vital performances. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to ensure long-term futures, but something to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory joins other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd slipped away into a stunning sunset, the team gathered on the field to commence their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
