Displayed inside a glass case on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a neon pink outfit worn by the pop star. His concert in front of 100,024 spectators was considered a major hit.
It's possible you enjoy his music. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music known to man. You might take a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some tracks are belting while others are awful.
The point being is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to create music or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on the environment.
The elements, the time of day, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the blank slate on which the athletes create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the established format taken to pieces and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
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, causing numerous dismissals tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The format is a varied portfolio, a long history and counting. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the ball moves excessively for the fast men. Other times, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are particularly captivating because of the patience devoted during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The True Test
Some factors are accepted more easily than others.
The argument in during the match was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the top batters were unable from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the wicket and responding appropriately. The best individual scores were made by recognized players. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View
Try telling the supporters who have experienced years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the MCG, countless fans made noise and created an atmosphere, producing a carnival vibe in a stronghold of national pride.
There was hope as the fielding side dominated, momentum when players responded, and unconditional love when the win was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a game there featured a wicket with all the life of a a damp squib.
That contest was a slog, with limited drama and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the range – neither ideal, yet value can be found in them.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the memory.
"This isn't the demise of Test cricket at all," said a former player. "Fans who have been privileged to see these two days have been given some real entertainment. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The squad protected him, reinstating the joy to his countenance.
New faces performed with vital performances. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to secure long-term success, but something to use as a platform.
At the very least, this triumph is added to other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad gathered on the turf to begin their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, lads. It's well deserved.
