Within a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a vibrant pink outfit donned by the pop star. The performance in front of a massive crowd of fans was hailed as a triumph.
Perhaps you don't appreciate the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music in history. Or you could adopt a balanced view, conceding that some songs are belting while others are awful.
The point being is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is not a single method to produce literature or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon the environment.
The weather, the hour of play, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the playing surface.
If the format is art, the strip is the canvas on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport broken apart and stuck back together in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the wicket which produced a victory and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Having 10mm of grass on the wicket, resulting in 36 wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The long game is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and counting. At times, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. In contrast, it turns square on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling due to the investment committed during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Some factors are accepted more freely than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the top batters were unable from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the conditions and adjusting effectively. The top two individual scores were made by world-class stars. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the fans who have suffered years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the stadium, a sea of people celebrated and chanted, producing a party atmosphere in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the bowlers surged, advantage when batters scored quickly, and unconditional love when the result was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Previously, a game there featured a pitch with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a marathon, with minimal action and interminable tedium. This recent match and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the range – both are not the standard, yet significance can be ascribed to each.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the memory.
"This isn't the death of Test cricket at all," said a past champion. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been given some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this match, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The squad delivered for him, reinstating the joy to his persona.
Different players delivered with vital performances. These are small positives, hardly enough to ensure long-term stability, but a starting point to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory joins other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters departed into a beautiful night, the squad assembled on the outfield to commence their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, men. This victory was hard-fought.
