Displayed inside a glass case on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a neon pink ensemble worn by the pop star. His performance in front of a hundred thousand fans was considered a major hit.
You might not like his music. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music known to man. You might take a balanced view, acknowledging that some songs are fantastic while others are terrible.
The key argument is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no one way to create literature or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on external factors.
The elements, the hour of play, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the pitch.
If the format is art, the wicket is the foundation on which the athletes create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport broken apart and reassembled in abstract form.
This is not a defence of the pitch which resulted in a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Allowing a thick layer on the surface, leading to 36 wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is mistaken.
The format is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and counting. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the fast men. In contrast, it turns square on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are even more exciting because of the time committed in other matches.
Adjustment: The True Test
Certain variables are tolerated more readily than others.
The argument in during the match was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the top batters were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about problem solving – interpreting the situation and responding effectively. The two highest individual scores were made by world-class stars. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the fans who have experienced years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the MCG, a sea of people made noise and chanted, generating a festive mood in a stronghold of sport.
There was optimism as the bowlers surged, momentum when batters responded, and unconditional love when the victory was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a match there featured a strip with all the life of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a marathon, with minimal action and slow play. This recent match and that previous match are extreme ends of the range – neither ideal, yet historical weight can be ascribed to each.
At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the history books.
"This isn't the end of the long game at all," said a former player. "Fans who have been privileged to see these short time have been treated to some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this match, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.
The squad protected him, restoring the positive demeanor to his persona.
Emerging talents performed with vital performances. These are small positives, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term success, but something to build on.
Ultimately, this triumph takes its place among other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team gathered on the field to commence their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
