Within a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the MCG sits a electric pink outfit worn by the pop star. The show in front of a hundred thousand attendees was hailed as a success.
Perhaps you don't enjoy his music. Maybe you feel he is the finest offering to music known to man. Or you could adopt a middle ground, conceding that some songs are belting while others are poor.
The key argument is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to create music or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon external factors.
The elements, the hour of play, the red ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the wicket.
If the format is a form of art, the strip is the blank slate on which the players create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reassembled in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the wicket which resulted in a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Having excessive grass on the pitch, leading to 36 wickets being taken in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and still growing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it turns square on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are particularly captivating because of the time devoted during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Specific conditions are tolerated more readily than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the top batters were unable from showcasing their talents.
The format is about adapting to challenges – reading the situation and responding accordingly. The two highest individual scores were made by recognized batters. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the fans who have suffered years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the stadium, thousands celebrated and sang their songs, generating a carnival vibe in a stronghold of national pride.
There was belief as the fielding side surged, advantage when players scored quickly, and pure joy when the win was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has form with difficult wickets. In the past, a match there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That match was a marathon, with minimal action and endless boredom. This recent match and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the range – both are not perfect, yet value can be ascribed to both.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the memory.
"Far from being the end of the long game at all," said a former player. "The people who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been experienced some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this match, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The players protected him, restoring the joy to his countenance.
Emerging talents performed with vital performances. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term success, but a starting point to use as a platform.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd slipped away into a stunning sunset, the players congregated on the outfield to begin their own festivities.
Celebrate the win, boys. It's well deserved.
