In a showcase on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a electric pink ensemble worn by the pop star. His performance in front of a massive crowd of spectators was seen as a success.
Perhaps you don't like his music. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, acknowledging that some hits are belting while others are terrible.
The key argument is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no one way to create art or even five-day cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon external factors.
The elements, the session, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Most important is the pitch.
If the format is art, the wicket is the canvas on which the players create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the established format taken to pieces and reassembled in abstract form.
This is not a justification of the wicket which resulted in a victory and the another short match of the series.
Having 10mm of grass on the surface, resulting in 36 wickets tumbling in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is mistaken.
The long game is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and counting. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it turns square on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling because of the time made elsewhere.
Adjustment: The True Test
Specific conditions are accepted more easily than others.
The argument in Melbourne was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the best players were hindered from demonstrating their skill.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the conditions and responding effectively. The top two individual contributions were made by world-class stars. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.
Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the supporters who have endured 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In one section of the ground, countless fans made noise and created an atmosphere, fostering a party atmosphere in a heartland of national pride.
There was optimism as the bowlers dominated, impetus when the top order responded, and rapturous celebration when the result was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has a history with pitch problems. Previously, a game there featured a wicket with all the life of a a damp squib.
That fixture was a marathon, with few wickets and slow play. This recent match and that slow Test are polar opposites of the range – both are not ideal, yet significance can be attached to each.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the memory.
"Far from being the demise of Test cricket at all," said a former player. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been experienced some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The team delivered for him, restoring the smile to his countenance.
New faces stepped up with key contributions. These are small positives, hardly enough to ensure long-term futures, but a foundation to build on.
Ultimately, this triumph joins other memorable performances in meaningless games.
As the supporters slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team congregated on the field to start their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
