In a showcase on the third floor of the MCG rests a neon pink suit performed in by the pop star. The performance in front of a massive crowd of attendees was seen as a major hit.
It's possible you like the performer. You might think he is the ultimate present to music known to man. You might take a middle ground, acknowledging that some tracks are belting while others are awful.
The central idea is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to create literature or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on the environment.
The weather, the session, the ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the wicket.
If the format is a form of art, the strip is the canvas on which the athletes craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the great game taken to pieces and stuck back together in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the wicket which yielded a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the surface, leading to a cascade of wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is incorrect.
The format is a diverse canvas, a long history and counting. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The close matches are all the more thrilling due to the patience devoted during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are embraced more freely than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the top batters were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the wicket and adjusting appropriately. The best individual contributions were made by acknowledged batters. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the devotees who have endured 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the ground, thousands waved their flags and created an atmosphere, generating a carnival vibe in a bastion of national pride.
There was hope as the fielding side surged, impetus when batters fought back, and pure joy when the win was achieved.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has form with controversial surfaces. In the past, a Test there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a non-event.
That match was a slog, with limited drama and slow play. The latest encounter and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the scale – neither ideal, yet significance can be found in both.
At this stage into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the death of the long game at all," said a past champion. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been given some genuine drama. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this Test, the captain talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The players responded for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his persona.
Different players stepped up with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a foundation to build on.
In the end, this triumph takes its place among other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players gathered on the turf to start their own celebrations.
Celebrate the win, lads. You've earned this one.
