Displayed inside a glass case on the third floor of the MCG is housed a electric pink outfit performed in by the pop star. The show in front of a hundred thousand spectators was seen as a triumph.
Perhaps you don't enjoy his music. You might think he is the finest offering to music in history. Or you could adopt a middle ground, admitting that some tracks are excellent while others are poor.
The point being is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to craft art or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on conditions.
The weather, the hour of play, the ball – the list is endless. Above all is the wicket.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the wicket is the canvas on which the players craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport broken apart and stuck back together in abstract form.
This is not a justification of the pitch which produced a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Having a thick layer on the surface, leading to 36 wickets being taken in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, a long history and ongoing. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball does all sorts for the fast men. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are even more exciting because of the time made during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The True Test
Specific conditions are tolerated more easily than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the best players were unable from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the wicket and responding effectively. The two highest individual contributions were made by recognized batters. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the fans who have experienced 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the ground, a sea of people made noise and created an atmosphere, generating a carnival vibe in a stronghold of national pride.
There was belief as the attack dominated, momentum when players fought back, and pure joy when the victory was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with controversial surfaces. Previously, a Test there featured a pitch with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a marathon, with limited drama and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that slow Test are extreme ends of the range – one is not more the standard, yet historical weight can be found in them.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the demise of Test cricket at all," commented a former player. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been given some real entertainment. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this match, the skipper talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The squad responded for him, restoring the joy to his persona.
Emerging talents stepped up with key contributions. These are small positives, not nearly enough to ensure long-term success, but a starting point to build on.
Ultimately, this MCG win is added to other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans slipped away into a beautiful night, the team congregated on the field to start their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, lads. You've earned this one.
