Displayed inside a showcase on the upper level of the MCG rests a electric pink suit worn by the pop star. His show in front of 100,024 attendees was considered a major hit.
It's possible you enjoy the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music in history. Or you could adopt a middle ground, acknowledging that some hits are fantastic while others are poor.
The point being is that entertainment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to craft literature or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by external factors.
The elements, the session, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the playing surface.
If the format is a form of art, the strip is the foundation on which the athletes create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the established format taken to pieces and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the pitch which produced a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Having excessive grass on the pitch, leading to numerous dismissals falling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and still growing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Other times, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating owing to the investment made elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Certain variables are embraced more easily than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were unable from playing their natural game.
The format is about problem solving – interpreting the situation and responding appropriately. The top two individual contributions were made by acknowledged stars. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the devotees who have suffered years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the stadium, thousands waved their flags and created an atmosphere, fostering a festive mood in a heartland of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the bowlers dominated, momentum when the top order scored quickly, and unconditional love when the victory was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with pitch problems. Previously, a Test there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a non-event.
That fixture was a slog, with few wickets and slow play. This recent match and that previous match are polar opposites of the scale – one is not more ideal, yet value can be found in both.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the history books.
"Far from being the demise of the format at all," observed a veteran. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these short time have been experienced some genuine drama. A unique show."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this match, the skipper talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The squad delivered for him, reinstating the joy to his persona.
New faces stepped up with key contributions. These are small positives, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term success, but something to develop from.
In the end, this triumph is added to other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters departed into a beautiful night, the team congregated on the turf to begin their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
