Displayed inside a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a vibrant pink outfit donned by the pop star. His concert in front of 100,024 spectators was seen as a triumph.
Perhaps you don't appreciate the performer. You might think he is the ultimate present to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, admitting that some hits are excellent while others are awful.
The key argument is that amusement can take many forms. You like what you like. There is not a single method to create music or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon the environment.
The elements, the time of day, the ball – the list is endless. Above all is the wicket.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the foundation on which the players craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: 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 a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the surface which resulted in a win and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Having a thick layer on the pitch, leading to numerous dismissals being taken in less than two days, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and ongoing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball does all sorts for the fast men. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are all the more thrilling due to the investment devoted during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are embraced more easily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the balance was tipped too far towards the attack. That the best players were hindered from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the situation and adapting accordingly. The top two individual contributions were made by acknowledged players. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the devotees who have suffered a long drought that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the ground, thousands celebrated and sang their songs, producing a party atmosphere in a stronghold of national pride.
There was hope as the bowlers dominated, momentum when the top order responded, and unconditional love when the victory was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a game there featured a strip with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a marathon, with limited drama and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the range – both are not perfect, yet historical weight can be ascribed to each.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the death of the format at all," said a former player. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been experienced some genuine drama. A unique show."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this match, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The players protected him, bringing back the joy to his persona.
New faces performed with vital performances. These are small positives, not nearly enough to ensure long-term success, but a starting point to use as a platform.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory is added to other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters slipped away into a beautiful night, the team assembled on the field to start their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, lads. You've earned this one.
