Within a display cabinet on the upper level of the MCG is housed a neon pink ensemble donned by the pop star. The performance in front of a massive crowd of attendees was seen as a major hit.
It's possible you like the performer. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music in history. Or you could adopt a middle ground, acknowledging that some tracks are excellent while others are poor.
The key argument is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no one way to create literature or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by conditions.
The elements, the time of day, the red ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the pitch.
If the long game is a form of art, the strip is the canvas on which the players craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the great game taken to pieces and reconstructed in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the pitch which resulted in a win and the second two-day Test of the series.
Leaving a thick layer on the wicket, resulting in a cascade of wickets falling in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is incorrect.
The format is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and still growing. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Other times, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are even more exciting owing to the time made during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Some factors are embraced more freely than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were hindered from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the wicket and responding accordingly. The top two individual contributions were made by recognized stars. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the devotees who have experienced 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the ground, countless fans waved their flags and created an atmosphere, fostering a party atmosphere in a bastion of sport.
There was belief as the attack surged, momentum when players scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the result was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with pitch problems. In the past, a Test there featured a pitch with the character of a a damp squib.
That match was a slog, with limited drama and slow play. The latest encounter and that previous match are polar opposites of the spectrum – neither perfect, yet historical weight can be ascribed to them.
At this stage into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the demise of the long game at all," said a former player. "Fans who have been privileged to see these two days have been treated to some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this match, the skipper talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The squad protected him, restoring the joy to his persona.
New faces delivered with key contributions. These are small positives, certainly not enough to ensure long-term futures, but a starting point to build on.
At the very least, this triumph joins other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans slipped away into a stunning sunset, the players assembled on the field to commence their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, men. You've earned this one.
