Within a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a vibrant pink outfit worn by the pop star. The performance in front of 100,024 spectators was hailed as a triumph.
You might not enjoy his music. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Or you could adopt a middle ground, acknowledging that some songs are excellent while others are awful.
The key argument is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to create literature or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on external factors.
The climate, the session, the red ball – the list is endless. Above all is the pitch.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the blank slate on which the cricketers create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the established format dismantled and stuck back together in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the pitch which yielded a triumph and the another short match of the series.
Allowing 10mm of grass on the pitch, causing 36 wickets being taken in less than two days, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The format is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and ongoing. At times, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the seamers. Other times, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are particularly captivating due to the investment devoted during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Some factors are embraced more easily than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the balance was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about problem solving – interpreting the wicket and adapting effectively. The two highest individual scores were made by acknowledged batters. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the devotees who have suffered years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the stadium, countless fans made noise and sang their songs, fostering a party atmosphere in a bastion of sport.
There was optimism as the bowlers dominated, momentum when players responded, and unconditional love when the win was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a strip with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a grind, with few wickets and endless boredom. The two-day game and that previous match are extreme ends of the scale – one is not more the standard, yet significance can be attached to them.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the memory.
"This isn't the end of Test cricket at all," said a veteran. "The people who have been fortunate to see these two days have been experienced some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this Test, the skipper talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The team responded for him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his persona.
Different players stepped up with crucial roles. These are baby steps, hardly enough to guarantee long-term success, but something to build on.
At the very least, this triumph is added to other memorable performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad assembled on the field to begin their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, lads. It's well deserved.
