Within a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a vibrant pink suit performed in by the pop star. His show in front of 100,024 attendees was seen as a success.
You might not like the performer. You might think he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. You might take a reasonable stance, admitting that some hits are belting while others are poor.
The key argument is that entertainment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to create art or even five-day cricket.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon external factors.
The climate, the session, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the playing surface.
If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the foundation on which the players create their art.
An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport dismantled and reassembled in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the pitch which yielded a win and the another short match of the series.
Having excessive grass on the surface, resulting in numerous dismissals tumbling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.
The format is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and ongoing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The close matches are even more exciting due to the patience made during quieter periods.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Some factors are accepted more readily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the top batters were prevented from playing their natural game.
The format is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the situation and adjusting effectively. The two highest individual contributions were made by world-class batters. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Go and inform the fans who have experienced 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.
In one section of the MCG, thousands made noise and created an atmosphere, generating a carnival vibe in a heartland of sport.
There was optimism as the bowlers dominated, momentum when the top order responded, and pure joy when the victory was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a pitch with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That match was a marathon, with minimal action and slow play. The two-day game and that previous match are extreme ends of the range – neither the standard, yet value can be attached to them.
Four Tests into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the end of the long game at all," observed a past champion. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been experienced some fantastic sport. A unique show."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this Test, the leader spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.
The team delivered for him, reinstating the smile to his face.
Emerging talents delivered with key contributions. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term stability, but something to develop from.
In the end, this triumph is added to other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans left into a stunning sunset, the players gathered on the turf to commence their own enjoyment.
Savour the moment, boys. You've earned this one.
