Displayed inside a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the MCG is housed a vibrant pink outfit worn by the pop star. The show in front of a massive crowd of fans was seen as a success.
It's possible you like his music. You might think he is the greatest gift to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, admitting that some tracks are fantastic while others are poor.
The point being is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to craft literature or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on the environment.
The weather, the hour of play, the red ball – the list is endless. Above all is the wicket.
If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the blank slate on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the great game taken to pieces and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the surface which yielded a triumph and the another short match of the contest.
Having excessive grass on the surface, leading to a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
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 not a proper Test, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and ongoing. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the fast men. In contrast, it turns square on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling owing to the time devoted elsewhere.
Adjustment: The True Test
Some factors are embraced more readily than others.
The argument in during the match was that the contest was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
Test cricket is about problem solving – assessing the situation and adjusting effectively. The best individual innings were made by recognized stars. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the devotees who have experienced a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
Among the crowd of the stadium, thousands made noise and sang their songs, producing a festive mood in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the fielding side excelled, momentum when batters scored quickly, and pure joy when the victory was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has previous experience with controversial surfaces. In the past, a game there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a marathon, with limited drama and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the range – both are not ideal, yet significance can be ascribed to them.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the demise of Test cricket at all," said a past champion. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these two days have been treated to some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this Test, the leader spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.
The players delivered for him, restoring the smile to his face.
New faces performed with vital performances. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to secure long-term stability, but something to develop from.
At the very least, this triumph joins other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd left into a beautiful night, the players assembled on the outfield to start their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, boys. It's well deserved.
