Displayed inside a glass case on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a vibrant pink ensemble donned by the pop star. His show in front of a massive crowd of fans was hailed as a triumph.
Perhaps you don't enjoy his music. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, conceding that some hits are belting while others are awful.
The key argument is that entertainment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to create music or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by external factors.
The weather, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Most important is the pitch.
If Test cricket is art, the strip is the blank slate on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the great game taken to pieces and stuck back together in abstract form.
This is not a defence of the pitch which yielded a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.
Leaving excessive grass on the pitch, leading to numerous dismissals tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and counting. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably 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 close matches are particularly captivating owing to the time committed during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Certain variables are accepted more freely than others.
The argument in during the match was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were prevented from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the wicket and responding appropriately. The best individual innings were made by world-class stars. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the supporters who have suffered years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the ground, a sea of people waved their flags and chanted, producing a party atmosphere in a bastion of sport.
There was hope as the attack surged, momentum when the top order scored quickly, and unconditional love when the result was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with controversial surfaces. In the past, a Test there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That match was a slog, with limited drama and slow play. The two-day game and that previous match are polar opposites of the scale – one is not more ideal, yet significance can be attached to each.
Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the memory.
"This isn't the death of the format at all," observed a past champion. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these short time have been given some genuine drama. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this Test, the skipper talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The players delivered for him, restoring the joy to his face.
Emerging talents performed with crucial roles. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to ensure long-term futures, but a starting point to develop from.
Ultimately, this triumph is added to other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad congregated on the outfield to start their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, lads. You've earned this one.
