Within a showcase on the third floor of the MCG rests a vibrant pink suit worn by the pop star. The show in front of a massive crowd of spectators was seen as a triumph.
You might not appreciate his music. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music in history. Or you could adopt a middle ground, admitting that some songs are belting while others are terrible.
The key argument is that entertainment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to create literature or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon the environment.
The elements, the hour of play, the red ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the wicket.
If the long game is art, the strip is the canvas on which the athletes create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the established format dismantled and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the wicket which produced a victory and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the surface, resulting in numerous dismissals tumbling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, a long history and counting. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball does all sorts for the seamers. Other times, it turns square on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting due to the investment committed in other matches.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Certain variables are embraced more freely than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the balance was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were unable from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the wicket and adjusting effectively. The two highest individual innings were made by acknowledged players. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Go and inform the fans who have experienced a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the stadium, thousands celebrated and chanted, producing a festive mood in a heartland of national pride.
There was hope as the fielding side excelled, impetus when batters responded, and unconditional love when the result was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with controversial surfaces. In the past, a game there featured a strip with the excitement of a a non-event.
That fixture was a marathon, with limited drama and slow play. The two-day game and that previous match are polar opposites of the spectrum – both are not ideal, yet historical weight can be attached to both.
At this stage into the current series, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the memory.
"It's not the death of Test cricket at all," said a past champion. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these short time have been experienced some real entertainment. A unique show."
Small Victories: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this match, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.
The team responded for him, restoring the joy to his face.
Different players delivered with key contributions. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a foundation to build on.
In the end, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans slipped away into a beautiful night, the squad gathered on the outfield to begin their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
