Displayed inside a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a neon pink ensemble performed in by the pop star. His performance in front of a massive crowd of fans was hailed as a major hit.
You might not like his music. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a balanced view, acknowledging that some hits are belting while others are terrible.
The central idea is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to produce music or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by the environment.
The elements, the time of day, the red ball – the list is endless. Most important is the playing surface.
If the format is art, the wicket is the canvas on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport dismantled and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
This is not a justification of the pitch which produced a win and the another short match of the contest.
Allowing a thick layer on the surface, causing a cascade of wickets being taken in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The long game is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and counting. At times, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling owing to the patience devoted in other matches.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Some factors are embraced more easily than others.
The contention in during the match was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the best players were unable from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about problem solving – assessing the conditions and adjusting effectively. The top two individual innings were made by recognized stars. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the fans who have endured a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the ground, a sea of people celebrated and created an atmosphere, generating a festive mood in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the bowlers surged, impetus when batters scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the victory was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with controversial surfaces. In the past, a match there featured a strip with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a slog, with limited drama and endless boredom. The two-day game and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the scale – neither the standard, yet historical weight can be found in both.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the demise of the format at all," said a former player. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these short time have been treated to some real entertainment. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Building for the Future
In the preparation to this Test, the captain talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.
The players delivered for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his face.
New faces delivered with vital performances. These are small positives, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a foundation to use as a platform.
In the end, this MCG win joins other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd departed into a stunning sunset, the squad gathered on the field to begin their own festivities.
Enjoy the drink, men. It's well deserved.
