In a display cabinet on the upper level of the MCG is housed a vibrant pink outfit worn by the pop star. The show in front of 100,024 spectators was hailed as a major hit.
It's possible you like his music. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, conceding that some tracks are fantastic while others are poor.
The point being is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is not a single method to craft music or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on the environment.
The climate, the time of day, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the strip is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the established format broken apart and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
This is not a justification of the pitch which resulted in a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the wicket, causing a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, a long history and ongoing. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Other times, it turns square on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are even more exciting owing to the investment made in other matches.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are tolerated more readily than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were prevented from showcasing their talents.
The format is about finding solutions – interpreting the conditions and adapting appropriately. The two highest individual innings were made by acknowledged players. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the supporters who have experienced 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the MCG, thousands waved their flags and created an atmosphere, producing a carnival vibe in a stronghold of national pride.
There was hope as the fielding side excelled, impetus when batters fought back, and rapturous celebration when the win was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a game there featured a strip with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a grind, with limited drama and endless boredom. The two-day game and that previous match are polar opposites of the scale – neither the standard, yet historical weight can be ascribed to each.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the history books.
"Far from being the demise of the long game at all," said a former player. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these two days have been treated to some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The squad responded for him, reinstating the smile to his face.
Emerging talents performed with key contributions. These are baby steps, hardly enough to ensure long-term futures, but something to develop from.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory is added to other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans departed into a stunning sunset, the squad congregated on the outfield to begin their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, lads. It's well deserved.
