Displayed inside a glass case on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a vibrant pink outfit worn by the pop star. The show in front of a hundred thousand attendees was seen as a triumph.
It's possible you like the performer. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. You might take a middle ground, conceding that some songs are excellent while others are poor.
The point being is that enjoyment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is no one way to create music or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon conditions.
The weather, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the wicket.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the foundation on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport taken to pieces and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the pitch which resulted in a triumph and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Leaving a thick layer on the wicket, leading to a cascade of wickets being taken in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is incorrect.
The long game is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and counting. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling due to the time committed in other matches.
Adjustment: The True Test
Some factors are tolerated more freely than others.
The argument in during the match was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the top batters were unable from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about finding solutions – assessing the situation and adapting appropriately. The best individual contributions were made by world-class players. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Go and inform the supporters who have endured a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the MCG, thousands made noise and created an atmosphere, fostering a carnival vibe in a heartland of sport.
There was optimism as the fielding side surged, advantage when the top order responded, and rapturous celebration when the win was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a match there featured a wicket with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a marathon, with minimal action and slow play. The latest encounter and that previous match are extreme ends of the range – both are not ideal, yet value can be attached to both.
At this stage into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the end of Test cricket at all," commented a former player. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been treated to some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this match, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The squad protected him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his persona.
Different players stepped up with crucial roles. These are small positives, hardly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a foundation to build on.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory joins other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd left into a beautiful night, the team assembled on the field to begin their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, men. You've earned this one.
