Within a glass case on the third floor of the MCG rests a vibrant pink outfit worn by the pop star. His show in front of a massive crowd of spectators was considered a major hit.
Perhaps you don't appreciate the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, admitting that some songs are belting while others are poor.
The key argument is that enjoyment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to create music or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on conditions.
The weather, the time of day, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Most important is the pitch.
If the format is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the blank slate on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport dismantled and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the wicket which resulted in a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Having 10mm of grass on the pitch, causing numerous dismissals being taken in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and counting. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball does all sorts for the fast men. Sometimes, it turns square on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are even more exciting due to the time made during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are tolerated more readily than others.
The contention in during the match was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the top batters were hindered from showcasing their talents.
The format is about finding solutions – assessing the wicket and adjusting accordingly. The best individual contributions were made by world-class batters. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the devotees who have suffered years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the ground, thousands celebrated and chanted, producing a festive mood in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the fielding side excelled, momentum when players fought back, and pure joy when the win was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with pitch problems. Previously, a Test there featured a wicket with all the life of a a damp squib.
That match was a marathon, with few wickets and slow play. This recent match and that slow Test are polar opposites of the spectrum – both are not perfect, yet historical weight can be ascribed to each.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the memory.
"It's not the end of Test cricket at all," observed a former player. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these short time have been treated to some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The players protected him, bringing back the joy to his countenance.
Emerging talents performed with key contributions. These are baby steps, hardly enough to ensure long-term futures, but a starting point to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters departed into a beautiful night, the squad gathered on the field to commence their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, lads. It's well deserved.
