In a showcase on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a neon pink outfit worn by the pop star. The show in front of 100,024 spectators was hailed as a major hit.
You might not appreciate the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, admitting that some hits are belting while others are terrible.
The key argument is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to create art or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on external factors.
The climate, the time of day, the red ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the wicket.
If Test cricket is art, the wicket is the foundation on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the established format dismantled and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the pitch which yielded a win and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Having a thick layer on the surface, leading to numerous dismissals being taken in less than two days, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is mistaken.
The long game is a rich tapestry, a long history and ongoing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the seamers. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating because of the time devoted during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The True Test
Some factors are accepted more freely than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were hindered from playing their natural game.
Test cricket is about finding solutions – reading the wicket and adjusting accordingly. The top two individual scores were made by world-class stars. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the devotees who have experienced years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the ground, a sea of people made noise and sang their songs, generating a carnival vibe in a heartland of national pride.
There was belief as the attack surged, advantage when players responded, and rapturous celebration when the win was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with pitch problems. In the past, a Test there featured a pitch with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a slog, with limited drama and endless boredom. The two-day game and that previous match are extreme ends of the range – neither perfect, yet historical weight can be found in each.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the demise of Test cricket at all," commented a former player. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these two days have been treated to some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this match, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.
The squad protected him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his countenance.
New faces delivered with key contributions. These are small positives, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a starting point to use as a platform.
In the end, this triumph joins other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd slipped away into a stunning sunset, the team gathered on the turf to commence their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, men. It's well deserved.
