In a glass case on the third floor of the MCG is housed a neon pink ensemble worn by the pop star. The concert in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a major hit.
You might not like his music. You might think he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, admitting that some songs are belting while others are terrible.
The key argument is that entertainment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no one way to create music or even Test cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game
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 time of day, the ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the pitch.
If the format is a form of art, the wicket is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the great game dismantled and stuck back together in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the surface which resulted in a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.
Leaving a thick layer on the pitch, leading to a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.
A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and still growing. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the ball moves excessively for the fast men. Other times, it turns square on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling because of the patience made in other matches.
Adaptation: The True Test
Specific conditions are embraced more freely than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the best players were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about finding solutions – interpreting the conditions and responding effectively. The top two individual scores were made by world-class batters. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the supporters who have endured a long drought that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the MCG, thousands made noise and sang their songs, generating a party atmosphere in a bastion of Australian cricket.
There was optimism as the bowlers dominated, impetus when the top order fought back, and unconditional love when the victory was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has form with pitch problems. In the past, a game there featured a wicket with all the life of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a slog, with minimal action and slow play. The two-day game and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the scale – neither ideal, yet historical weight can be found in them.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the memory.
"It's not the demise of Test cricket at all," commented a past champion. "The people who have been fortunate to see these short time have been given some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this match, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.
The players responded for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his face.
Emerging talents delivered with vital performances. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to ensure long-term success, but a foundation to use as a platform.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory is added to other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans slipped away into a stunning sunset, the squad gathered on the field to commence their own festivities.
Savour the moment, boys. It's well deserved.
