Displayed inside a glass case on the third floor of the MCG rests a electric pink suit donned by the pop star. His performance in front of a massive crowd of fans was hailed as a success.
Perhaps you don't appreciate his music. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music known to man. You might take a middle ground, admitting that some tracks are excellent while others are terrible.
The point being is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to create music or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on external factors.
The elements, the hour of play, the red ball – the list is endless. Most important is the wicket.
If the long game is a form of art, the wicket is the canvas on which the cricketers create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the established format taken to pieces and reassembled in an unusual manner.
This is not a endorsement of the surface which produced a victory and the another short match of the contest.
Having excessive grass on the pitch, leading to a cascade of wickets falling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The format is a diverse canvas, a long history and counting. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the seamers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are all the more thrilling due to the time made during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are embraced more freely than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were prevented from playing their natural game.
Test cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the wicket and responding effectively. The top two individual innings were made by recognized batters. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the devotees who have suffered 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the MCG, a sea of people made noise and chanted, generating a carnival vibe in a bastion of sport.
There was optimism as the attack surged, advantage when the top order fought back, and pure joy when the victory was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Previously, a game there featured a strip with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a grind, with limited drama and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that previous match are extreme ends of the scale – both are not perfect, yet significance can be found in both.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the demise of the format at all," said a veteran. "The people who have been fortunate to see these two days have been treated to some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this Test, the leader talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The team protected him, bringing back the smile to his persona.
Different players stepped up with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to secure long-term success, but a foundation to develop from.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory joins other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters slipped away into a beautiful night, the players gathered on the outfield to start their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, boys. It's well deserved.
