Within a glass case on the upper level of the MCG rests a vibrant pink outfit performed in by the pop star. His show in front of 100,024 fans was considered a triumph.
You might not appreciate his music. You might think he is the ultimate present to music in history. You might take a balanced view, admitting that some tracks are fantastic while others are awful.
The key argument is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no one way to craft music or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on the environment.
The weather, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the established format taken to pieces and reconstructed in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the surface which yielded a triumph and the second two-day Test of the series.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the pitch, causing numerous dismissals falling in less than two days, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and still growing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the ball does all sorts for the seamers. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating due to the time made in other matches.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Some factors are tolerated more readily than others.
The debate in during the match was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the best players were hindered from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the situation and adapting appropriately. The two highest individual contributions were made by world-class batters. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the supporters who have experienced 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the stadium, thousands made noise and sang their songs, producing a party atmosphere in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the fielding side dominated, impetus when the top order scored quickly, and pure joy when the victory was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with controversial surfaces. Previously, a match there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a grind, with limited drama and slow play. This recent match and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the scale – neither perfect, yet value can be ascribed to them.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the demise of the long game at all," said a veteran. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these short time have been given some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this match, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The squad responded for him, bringing back the joy to his countenance.
Emerging talents performed with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to ensure long-term success, but a starting point to develop from.
At the very least, this triumph joins other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team assembled on the outfield to begin their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, men. You've earned this one.
