Within a glass case on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a neon pink ensemble donned by the pop star. His performance in front of a massive crowd of fans was considered a major hit.
You might not like the performer. You might think he is the ultimate present to music in history. Or you could adopt a balanced view, acknowledging that some hits are belting while others are terrible.
The central idea is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to produce art or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon the environment.
The climate, the session, the ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the wicket.
If the long game is art, the pitch is the canvas on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the established format taken to pieces and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the wicket which yielded a triumph and the second two-day Test of the series.
Allowing excessive grass on the surface, leading to 36 wickets being taken 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 diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is incorrect.
The format is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and ongoing. At times, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. Other times, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are even more exciting due to the investment devoted in other matches.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are embraced more easily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the best players were prevented from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – assessing the conditions and adapting effectively. The top two individual scores were made by recognized stars. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the devotees who have experienced years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the stadium, thousands celebrated and sang their songs, producing a party atmosphere in a bastion of national pride.
There was optimism as the bowlers surged, advantage when batters responded, and unconditional love when the win was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has form with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a game there featured a strip with the character of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a grind, with limited drama and interminable tedium. This recent match and that previous match are extreme ends of the range – both are not the standard, yet significance can be found in both.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the memory.
"This isn't the end of Test cricket at all," commented a former player. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been given some real entertainment. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this Test, the captain talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The squad protected him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his persona.
Emerging talents performed with crucial roles. These are small positives, certainly not enough to ensure long-term success, but a starting point to develop from.
At the very least, this triumph takes its place among other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters departed into a beautiful night, the players assembled on the field to start their own festivities.
Savour the moment, lads. You've earned this one.
