Within a showcase on the elevated floor of the MCG rests a neon pink outfit worn by the pop star. His show in front of a hundred thousand attendees was seen as a success.
You might not appreciate his music. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music in history. You might take a middle ground, admitting that some hits are fantastic while others are awful.
The point being is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no one way to produce art or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on external factors.
The weather, the hour of play, the red ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the playing surface.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the canvas on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the established format dismantled and reconstructed in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the wicket which produced a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Allowing a thick layer on the surface, causing numerous dismissals tumbling in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The long game is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and ongoing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Other times, it turns square on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are even more exciting because of the investment committed in other matches.
Adjustment: The True Test
Specific conditions are embraced more freely than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the top batters were prevented from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the situation and adapting effectively. The best individual innings were made by recognized batters. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the fans who have endured years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the ground, thousands celebrated and created an atmosphere, fostering a festive mood in a heartland of sport.
There was optimism as the fielding side excelled, advantage when batters scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the win was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a strip with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a slog, with few wickets and interminable tedium. This recent match and that slow Test are polar opposites of the range – one is not more perfect, yet significance can be ascribed to both.
At this stage into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the memory.
"It's not the demise of Test cricket at all," commented a past champion. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been treated to some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this match, the leader talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The team protected him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his persona.
New faces performed with crucial roles. These are small positives, certainly not enough to ensure long-term stability, but a foundation to build on.
Ultimately, this MCG win joins other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters slipped away into a beautiful night, the squad gathered on the outfield to commence their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, men. You've earned this one.
