Displayed inside a glass case on the elevated floor of the MCG sits a vibrant pink ensemble donned by the pop star. His concert in front of 100,024 fans was hailed as a major hit.
It's possible you appreciate his music. You might think he is the finest offering to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, admitting that some hits are excellent while others are poor.
The key argument is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to create music or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by conditions.
The elements, the hour of play, the ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the wicket.
If the format is a form of art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the cricketers create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the great game dismantled and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.
It must be stated this is not a defence of the surface which produced a triumph and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Leaving 10mm of grass on the wicket, leading to numerous dismissals tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.
A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The format is a varied portfolio, a long history and still growing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the ball moves excessively for the fast men. Other times, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.
The thrillers are particularly captivating because of the time committed elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Certain variables are accepted more freely than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the best players were unable from playing their natural game.
The format is about finding solutions – assessing the situation and adapting effectively. The two highest individual contributions were made by world-class stars. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the devotees who have experienced a long drought that this was not entertaining.
In a corner of the stadium, thousands waved their flags and chanted, generating a carnival vibe in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was hope as the attack excelled, momentum when batters responded, and unconditional love when the victory was achieved.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a strip with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a grind, with limited drama and endless boredom. The two-day game and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – both are not the standard, yet significance can be found in them.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the end of the format at all," said a past champion. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been given some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the lead-in to this match, the leader spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.
The squad delivered for him, restoring the smile to his face.
Different players delivered with crucial roles. These are baby steps, hardly enough to guarantee long-term success, but something to use as a platform.
In the end, this MCG win takes its place among other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans slipped away into a beautiful night, the squad gathered on the outfield to start their own enjoyment.
Enjoy the drink, men. This victory was hard-fought.
