In a display cabinet on the upper level of the MCG is housed a neon pink ensemble worn by the pop star. The show in front of a massive crowd of spectators was seen as a major hit.
You might not appreciate his music. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some tracks are fantastic while others are poor.
The central idea is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no one way to craft music or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon conditions.
The climate, the time of day, the ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the wicket.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the foundation on which the players craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reassembled in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the pitch which yielded a victory and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Having excessive grass on the wicket, causing a cascade of wickets falling in less than two days, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
The format is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and ongoing. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the fast men. Other times, it grips and turns on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are even more exciting owing to the patience made elsewhere.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are embraced more easily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were hindered from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the conditions and responding appropriately. The best individual innings were made by world-class players. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the supporters who have endured 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the MCG, countless fans waved their flags and created an atmosphere, fostering a festive mood in a bastion of national pride.
There was optimism as the bowlers dominated, advantage when the top order fought back, and rapturous celebration when the win was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Previously, a game there featured a wicket with the character of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a grind, with few wickets and interminable tedium. This recent match and that slow Test are extreme ends of the spectrum – both are not the standard, yet historical weight can be ascribed to both.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the memory.
"It's not the death of the format at all," observed a former player. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been given some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The team protected him, reinstating the joy to his persona.
Different players stepped up with key contributions. These are small positives, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a starting point to build on.
At the very least, this triumph is added to other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad gathered on the turf to start their own festivities.
Celebrate the win, lads. It's well deserved.
