Within a glass case on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a electric pink ensemble worn by the pop star. His performance in front of a massive crowd of fans was seen as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't appreciate his music. Maybe you feel he is the finest offering to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, conceding that some hits are fantastic while others are poor.
The central idea is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to create music or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon conditions.
The weather, the time of day, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the wicket.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the strip is the blank slate on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the established format broken apart and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the pitch which produced a triumph and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Leaving excessive grass on the surface, causing 36 wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
The format is a varied portfolio, a long history and ongoing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Other times, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are even more exciting because of the investment committed in other matches.
Adjustment: The True Test
Specific conditions are accepted more freely than others.
The argument in during the match was that the contest was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about problem solving – assessing the conditions and adapting effectively. The top two individual scores were made by acknowledged players. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the fans who have suffered a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the ground, countless fans waved their flags and chanted, fostering a party atmosphere in a heartland of national pride.
There was hope as the bowlers surged, advantage when the top order scored quickly, and pure joy when the result was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has form with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a match there featured a pitch with all the life of a a damp squib.
That match was a grind, with limited drama and endless boredom. This recent match and that previous match are extreme ends of the range – neither the standard, yet historical weight can be attached to each.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the demise of the format at all," commented a former player. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these two days have been given some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The team protected him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his countenance.
New faces delivered with vital performances. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a foundation to build on.
At the very least, this MCG win joins other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters departed into a stunning sunset, the squad assembled on the turf to begin their own festivities.
Celebrate the win, boys. It's well deserved.
