Within a showcase on the third floor of the MCG is housed a neon pink suit donned by the pop star. The show in front of 100,024 attendees was hailed as a triumph.
You might not appreciate his music. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Or you could adopt a balanced view, admitting that some tracks are belting while others are awful.
The central idea is that enjoyment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is not a single method to craft music or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon the environment.
The weather, the hour of play, the ball – the list is endless. Most important is the playing surface.
If the format is a form of art, the strip is the blank slate on which the players craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the great game taken to pieces and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
This is not a defence of the surface which resulted in a victory and the another short match of the series.
Having a thick layer on the pitch, resulting in numerous dismissals falling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and ongoing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Other times, it grips and turns on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating owing to the investment made during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are tolerated more readily than others.
The argument in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the best players were unable from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the wicket and adjusting appropriately. The two highest individual scores were made by world-class batters. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the supporters who have experienced 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the ground, countless fans waved their flags and sang their songs, generating a festive mood in a stronghold of national pride.
There was optimism as the fielding side excelled, impetus when players fought back, and unconditional love when the result was achieved.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with difficult wickets. Previously, a Test there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a non-event.
That match was a marathon, with minimal action and endless boredom. The two-day game and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the spectrum – neither ideal, yet historical weight can be found in them.
Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the demise of the long game at all," observed a veteran. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been treated to some real entertainment. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this Test, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The team responded for him, restoring the joy to his persona.
Different players stepped up with crucial roles. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a starting point to build on.
Ultimately, this MCG win joins other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters slipped away into a stunning sunset, the squad congregated on the field to start their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, men. You've earned this one.
