Displayed inside a glass case on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a electric pink suit worn by the pop star. The performance in front of a massive crowd of fans was hailed as a success.
Perhaps you don't like his music. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. You might take a middle ground, conceding that some tracks are fantastic while others are terrible.
The key argument is that amusement can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is no one way to craft art or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by the environment.
The climate, the session, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the strip is the foundation on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the pitch which produced a win and the second two-day Test of the series.
Allowing a thick layer on the surface, resulting in a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is incorrect.
The long game is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and still growing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are particularly captivating due to the patience committed during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are tolerated more readily than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the contest was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the top batters were unable from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the situation and adjusting effectively. The two highest individual innings were made by recognized players. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the supporters who have suffered a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the stadium, countless fans made noise and sang their songs, generating a carnival vibe in a heartland of sport.
There was belief as the bowlers excelled, impetus when players responded, and unconditional love when the win was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with difficult wickets. Previously, a game there featured a strip with all the life of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a slog, with limited drama and endless boredom. This recent match and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the spectrum – one is not more the standard, yet historical weight can be ascribed to each.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the memory.
"This isn't the demise of the long game at all," observed a past champion. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these two days have been experienced some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this Test, the leader spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.
The squad delivered for him, bringing back the joy to his countenance.
Different players stepped up with vital performances. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to secure long-term futures, but a starting point to use as a platform.
At the very least, this triumph is added to other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team gathered on the turf to begin their own festivities.
Savour the moment, lads. You've earned this one.
