Within a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a electric pink ensemble donned by the pop star. The show in front of a massive crowd of fans was considered a major hit.
It's possible you enjoy the performer. You might think he is the greatest gift to music in history. You might take a balanced view, admitting that some tracks are excellent while others are awful.
The central idea is that amusement can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to create music or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on conditions.
The weather, the hour of play, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the pitch.
If the format is a form of art, the wicket is the foundation on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the great game dismantled and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
This is not a endorsement of the wicket which yielded a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Having excessive grass on the pitch, causing a cascade of wickets being taken in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.
The long game is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and ongoing. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Other times, it turns square on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating because of the investment devoted elsewhere.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Certain variables are accepted more easily than others.
The debate in during the match was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were hindered from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about problem solving – reading the wicket and adjusting effectively. The top two individual contributions were made by world-class stars. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the fans who have suffered 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the stadium, thousands waved their flags and sang their songs, producing a party atmosphere in a stronghold of sport.
There was hope as the bowlers dominated, impetus when batters fought back, and rapturous celebration when the result was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has form with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a pitch with all the life of a a non-event.
That contest was a marathon, with minimal action and slow play. This recent match and that previous match are polar opposites of the scale – one is not more perfect, yet value can be ascribed to them.
At this stage into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the memory.
"It's not the end of Test cricket at all," said a former player. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been given some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this Test, the leader talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The squad protected him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his persona.
Different players performed with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to ensure long-term success, but a starting point to develop from.
At the very least, this triumph takes its place among other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players assembled on the outfield to start their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, lads. It's well deserved.
