Displayed inside a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the MCG sits a vibrant pink suit donned by the pop star. His show in front of a hundred thousand spectators was hailed as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't like his music. You might think he is the ultimate present to music known to man. You might take a balanced view, conceding that some songs are excellent while others are terrible.
The point being is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to craft literature or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on the environment.
The weather, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the pitch.
If the long game is a form of art, the pitch is the canvas on which the athletes create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the established format dismantled and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the wicket which resulted in a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the wicket, resulting in a cascade of wickets falling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and counting. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. In contrast, it turns square on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling owing to the patience committed during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are tolerated more easily than others.
The argument in during the match was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the best players were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the conditions and adjusting effectively. The top two individual innings were made by recognized players. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the fans who have suffered years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
Among the crowd of the MCG, a sea of people made noise and sang their songs, fostering a party atmosphere in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the bowlers surged, impetus when batters scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the result was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with pitch problems. Previously, a game there featured a wicket with the character of a a damp squib.
That contest was a marathon, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the spectrum – one is not more the standard, yet value can be attached to both.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the end of the long game at all," observed a veteran. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these short time have been given some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this match, the leader talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The squad responded for him, reinstating the joy to his countenance.
Different players stepped up with key contributions. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to secure long-term stability, but a foundation to develop from.
Ultimately, this triumph takes its place among other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans departed into a stunning sunset, the team gathered on the outfield to commence their own festivities.
Savour the moment, boys. It's well deserved.