In a showcase on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a vibrant pink outfit worn by the pop star. The show in front of a massive crowd of spectators was considered a major hit.
It's possible you enjoy the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music in history. You might take a middle ground, acknowledging that some hits are fantastic while others are awful.
The central idea is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no one way to produce literature or even five-day cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon conditions.
The weather, the session, the red ball – the list is endless. Most important is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is a form of art, the strip is the foundation on which the players create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the established format taken to pieces and reassembled in an unusual manner.
This is not a endorsement of the wicket which resulted in a win and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Leaving excessive grass on the pitch, resulting in a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is mistaken.
The format is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and counting. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the ball moves excessively for the fast men. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating owing to the time devoted elsewhere.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Certain variables are embraced more easily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the top batters were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – reading the situation and adjusting appropriately. The two highest individual innings were made by acknowledged batters. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the devotees who have experienced a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the MCG, a sea of people made noise and chanted, producing a party atmosphere in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the bowlers surged, momentum when batters scored quickly, and pure joy when the result was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with pitch problems. In the past, a match there featured a pitch with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a slog, with limited drama and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – both are not ideal, yet historical weight can be found in both.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the memory.
"It's not the demise of Test cricket at all," said a veteran. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been experienced some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this match, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The players delivered for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his persona.
Different players delivered with key contributions. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term futures, but something to build on.
Ultimately, this MCG win is added to other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans left into a beautiful night, the players gathered on the field to commence their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, lads. You've earned this one.
