Within a showcase on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a vibrant pink suit worn by the pop star. The concert in front of a massive crowd of attendees was seen as a major hit.
It's possible you like his music. You might think he is the finest offering to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, acknowledging that some songs are belting while others are awful.
The central idea is that entertainment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to craft music or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on external factors.
The climate, the hour of play, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the pitch.
If the format is art, the strip is the blank slate on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport broken apart and reconstructed in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the surface which resulted in a win and the second two-day Test of the series.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the surface, leading to numerous dismissals being taken in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is incorrect.
The format is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and ongoing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the ball moves excessively for the seamers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are particularly captivating owing to the investment made in other matches.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Some factors are accepted more readily than others.
The contention in during the match was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the top batters were hindered from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – assessing the conditions and adapting effectively. The top two individual innings were made by recognized batters. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the fans who have suffered 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the MCG, thousands celebrated and sang their songs, fostering a party atmosphere in a stronghold of national pride.
There was optimism as the fielding side dominated, impetus when players fought back, and unconditional love when the victory was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with controversial surfaces. Previously, a game there featured a strip with all the life of a a damp squib.
That contest was a marathon, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the range – neither ideal, yet value can be found in them.
Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the history books.
"Far from being the demise of the format at all," said a past champion. "The people who have been fortunate to see these short time have been given some genuine drama. A unique show."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this Test, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The squad delivered for him, restoring the smile to his countenance.
Emerging talents performed with key contributions. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to secure long-term stability, but a foundation to build on.
In the end, this Melbourne victory joins other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd left into a stunning sunset, the players assembled on the turf to commence their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, boys. It's well deserved.
