In a showcase on the third floor of the MCG sits a vibrant pink outfit donned by the pop star. His performance in front of 100,024 fans was hailed as a triumph.
Perhaps you don't enjoy the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, acknowledging that some hits are fantastic while others are terrible.
The central idea is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to create literature or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on conditions.
The weather, the session, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the playing surface.
If the long game is a form of art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the established format dismantled and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the pitch which yielded a triumph and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Allowing a thick layer on the surface, resulting in numerous dismissals falling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted 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. Other times, it turns square on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are even more exciting due to the time devoted elsewhere.
Adaptation: The True Test
Certain variables are accepted more freely than others.
The contention in during the match was that the balance was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the best players were unable from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – reading the wicket and adjusting appropriately. The best individual scores were made by acknowledged batters. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the supporters who have experienced 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the stadium, thousands celebrated and sang their songs, producing a carnival vibe in a heartland of national pride.
There was belief as the bowlers excelled, advantage when batters responded, and pure joy when the win was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with pitch problems. Previously, a game there featured a strip with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a grind, with limited drama and endless boredom. The two-day game and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – neither perfect, yet value can be attached to each.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the death of Test cricket at all," said a past champion. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these short time have been given some genuine drama. A unique show."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.
The squad protected him, restoring the smile to his persona.
New faces delivered with crucial roles. These are baby steps, hardly enough to secure long-term success, but a foundation to build on.
Ultimately, this MCG win is added to other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters left into a stunning sunset, the team assembled on the field to commence their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, men. You've earned this one.
