Displayed inside a showcase on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a vibrant pink suit worn by the pop star. The performance in front of 100,024 attendees was considered a success.
It's possible you enjoy his music. You might think he is the greatest gift to music in history. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some songs are excellent while others are awful.
The point being is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is not a single method to produce literature or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by external factors.
The elements, the session, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the wicket.
If the format is a form of art, the strip is the blank slate on which the athletes craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport broken apart and reassembled in abstract form.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the surface which resulted in a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the pitch, resulting in a cascade of wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and ongoing. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball moves excessively for the fast men. Other times, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are particularly captivating owing to the patience devoted elsewhere.
Adaptation: The True Test
Certain variables are accepted more readily than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the balance was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the top batters were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the situation and adapting accordingly. The top two individual scores were made by world-class players. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Try telling the devotees who have suffered a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the MCG, thousands celebrated and chanted, fostering a carnival vibe in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the fielding side surged, advantage when the top order fought back, and pure joy when the win was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with pitch problems. Previously, a Test there featured a strip with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a grind, with minimal action and slow play. The latest encounter and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – both are not perfect, yet historical weight can be ascribed to each.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the death of Test cricket at all," commented a veteran. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been given some genuine drama. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this Test, the captain spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The squad protected him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his countenance.
New faces stepped up with key contributions. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to secure long-term futures, but a starting point to develop from.
At the very least, this triumph is added to other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players assembled on the outfield to start their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, men. This victory was hard-fought.
