Displayed inside a showcase on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a neon pink outfit performed in by the pop star. His concert in front of a massive crowd of spectators was considered a success.
It's possible you like his music. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, admitting that some songs are fantastic while others are poor.
The key argument is that amusement can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to create literature or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on external factors.
The climate, the session, the red ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the wicket is the foundation on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the great game dismantled and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the wicket which resulted in a triumph and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Having excessive grass on the pitch, leading to a cascade of wickets falling in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and still growing. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. In contrast, it turns square on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are even more exciting owing to the patience made in other matches.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are embraced more readily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the contest was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the best players were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – reading the conditions and adjusting effectively. The two highest individual innings were made by acknowledged batters. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Try telling the supporters who have experienced 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the MCG, countless fans celebrated and created an atmosphere, fostering a party atmosphere in a bastion of national pride.
There was optimism as the attack excelled, impetus when players responded, and rapturous celebration when the win was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with pitch problems. In the past, a Test there featured a strip with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a slog, with limited drama and endless boredom. This recent match and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the spectrum – both are not perfect, yet significance can be ascribed to each.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the memory.
"Far from being the death of the format at all," commented a veteran. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these short time have been experienced some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this match, the leader spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The players protected him, restoring the smile to his persona.
New faces stepped up with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a foundation to build on.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory is added to other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team assembled on the outfield to commence their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, boys. It's well deserved.
