Within a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a vibrant pink suit performed in by the pop star. His performance in front of a massive crowd of attendees was seen as a triumph.
Perhaps you don't enjoy the performer. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, conceding that some songs are fantastic while others are poor.
The central idea is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no one way to produce art or even Test cricket.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by the environment.
The climate, the time of day, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the playing surface.
If the long game is a form of art, the pitch is the foundation on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the great game taken to pieces and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the pitch which yielded a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the wicket, causing numerous dismissals falling in less than two days, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and still growing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball does all sorts for the seamers. In contrast, it turns square on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are particularly captivating due to the investment devoted in other matches.
Adjustment: The True Test
Some factors are accepted more freely than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the top batters were prevented from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the situation and adapting effectively. The best individual contributions were made by world-class players. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the devotees who have suffered 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the stadium, a sea of people waved their flags and created an atmosphere, generating a carnival vibe in a stronghold of sport.
There was belief as the fielding side dominated, advantage when batters scored quickly, and unconditional love when the victory was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has form with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a game there featured a pitch with the character of a a non-event.
That fixture was a slog, with few wickets and endless boredom. This recent match and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the scale – one is not more perfect, yet value can be ascribed to both.
At this stage into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the history books.
"This isn't the end of the long game at all," said a veteran. "The people who have been privileged to see these two days have been treated to some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The squad responded for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Different players performed with crucial roles. These are baby steps, hardly enough to secure long-term stability, but a foundation to use as a platform.
At the very least, this triumph takes its place among other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the fans slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team gathered on the field to start their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, men. This victory was hard-fought.
