Displayed inside a display cabinet on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a vibrant pink outfit donned by the pop star. The concert in front of 100,024 fans was hailed as a success.
It's possible you like his music. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, acknowledging that some hits are belting while others are awful.
The point being is that enjoyment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to create literature or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on external factors.
The elements, the time of day, the red ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is art, the pitch is the canvas on which the players craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the established format broken apart and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the pitch which yielded a triumph and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Leaving a thick layer on the pitch, leading to numerous dismissals falling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The long game is a rich tapestry, a long history and still growing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the ball moves excessively for the fast men. Sometimes, it turns square on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling due to the time committed in other matches.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are accepted more easily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the best players were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the wicket and adjusting appropriately. The best individual innings were made by acknowledged stars. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the fans who have suffered 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the ground, thousands celebrated and created an atmosphere, producing a party atmosphere in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the fielding side surged, advantage when players fought back, and pure joy when the victory was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has form with pitch problems. Previously, a game there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That match was a grind, with limited drama and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that previous match are extreme ends of the scale – both are not ideal, yet significance can be ascribed to each.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the history books.
"Far from being the end of the format at all," commented a past champion. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been given some real entertainment. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this match, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The team protected him, reinstating the joy to his persona.
Different players performed with crucial roles. These are baby steps, hardly enough to ensure long-term futures, but something to develop from.
Ultimately, this MCG win joins other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters departed into a stunning sunset, the squad assembled on the turf to commence their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, lads. You've earned this one.
