Displayed inside a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a electric pink outfit donned by the pop star. The performance in front of 100,024 attendees was considered a success.
You might not like his music. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, admitting that some songs are fantastic while others are poor.
The key argument is that entertainment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to create music or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by external factors.
The elements, the time of day, the ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the players create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport dismantled and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the pitch which resulted in a win and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the pitch, causing a cascade of wickets falling in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The format is a diverse canvas, a long history and counting. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The close matches are particularly captivating because of the patience made during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are tolerated more easily than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the best players were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about adapting to challenges – reading the wicket and responding appropriately. The top two individual contributions were made by acknowledged stars. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the supporters who have suffered years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the stadium, countless fans waved their flags and chanted, producing a festive mood in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the fielding side surged, momentum when batters scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the victory was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Variety 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 pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a marathon, with few wickets and endless boredom. The two-day game and that slow Test are extreme ends of the range – neither ideal, yet historical weight can be ascribed to them.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the memory.
"It's not the end of the long game at all," said a former player. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been experienced some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this match, the captain talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The players delivered for him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his countenance.
New faces stepped up with vital performances. These are small positives, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but something to build on.
In the end, this MCG win is added to other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad assembled on the turf to begin their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, men. You've earned this one.
