Displayed inside a showcase on the elevated floor of the MCG sits a vibrant pink ensemble donned by the pop star. His performance in front of a hundred thousand attendees was considered a triumph.
You might not like his music. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a middle ground, admitting that some hits are fantastic while others are poor.
The key argument is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to create art or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon external factors.
The weather, the session, the ball – the list is endless. Above all is the wicket.
If the format is art, the strip is the blank slate on which the athletes create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the established format dismantled and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the wicket which produced a win and the another short match of the series.
Leaving excessive grass on the wicket, causing numerous dismissals tumbling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, a long history and still growing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.
The close matches are all the more thrilling owing to the patience devoted during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Some factors are embraced more freely than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the best players were hindered from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the wicket and responding effectively. The top two individual scores were made by world-class stars. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the devotees who have suffered years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the ground, countless fans waved their flags and chanted, fostering a festive mood in a heartland of sport.
There was belief as the bowlers surged, momentum when batters responded, and pure joy when the victory was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a match there featured a wicket with the character of a a damp squib.
That contest was a grind, with few wickets and slow play. The two-day game and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the range – neither the standard, yet historical weight can be attached to them.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the memory.
"Far from being the death of the format at all," commented a veteran. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been treated to some real entertainment. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this match, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The players responded for him, bringing back the joy to his face.
Different players delivered with key contributions. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to guarantee long-term success, but something to develop from.
At the very least, this triumph is added to other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the crowd left into a beautiful night, the players assembled on the outfield to commence their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, boys. You've earned this one.
