Within a glass case on the elevated floor of the MCG sits a vibrant pink ensemble performed in by the pop star. His concert in front of a hundred thousand fans was seen as a triumph.
You might not like his music. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music known to man. You might take a reasonable stance, admitting that some tracks are fantastic while others are poor.
The central idea is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is not a single method to produce literature or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on the environment.
The climate, the time of day, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the playing surface.
If the long game is art, the strip is the foundation on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the great game dismantled and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the surface which resulted in a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the wicket, leading to numerous dismissals falling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The long game is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and ongoing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. Other times, it turns square on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting because of the patience committed during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Some factors are embraced more freely than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the top batters were hindered from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – assessing the situation and adjusting appropriately. The top two individual scores were made by acknowledged batters. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Try telling the fans who have experienced years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the ground, thousands made noise and sang their songs, fostering a party atmosphere in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the attack surged, impetus when players responded, and pure joy when the win was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has form with controversial surfaces. In the past, a game there featured a strip with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a slog, with limited drama and endless boredom. The two-day game and that slow Test are extreme ends of the range – neither perfect, yet value can be attached to them.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the memory.
"Far from being the death of Test cricket at all," commented a former player. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been treated to some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The players protected him, restoring the positive demeanor to his countenance.
New faces stepped up with vital performances. These are small positives, hardly enough to ensure long-term stability, but something to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this MCG win takes its place among other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans slipped away into a stunning sunset, the team gathered on the turf to begin their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, men. You've earned this one.
