Displayed inside a display cabinet on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a vibrant pink ensemble performed in by the pop star. The performance in front of a massive crowd of spectators was considered a success.
Perhaps you don't appreciate the performer. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music in history. You might take a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some tracks are belting while others are awful.
The central idea is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to create music or even the longest format.
The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on conditions.
The climate, the session, the ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the playing surface.
If the format is art, the pitch is the foundation on which the cricketers create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the established format broken apart and reassembled in a bizarre shape.
Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the wicket which resulted in a victory and the another short match of the contest.
Having a thick layer on the wicket, resulting in a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
The format is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and ongoing. At times, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the seamers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The close matches are all the more thrilling because of the investment committed in other matches.
Adaptation: The Core Skill
Certain variables are embraced more easily than others.
The contention in Melbourne was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were hindered from playing their natural game.
This level of cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the wicket and responding appropriately. The best individual innings were made by world-class stars. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the devotees who have experienced a long drought that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the MCG, a sea of people celebrated and sang their songs, generating a party atmosphere in a bastion of sport.
There was optimism as the bowlers surged, momentum when batters fought back, and pure joy when the win was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with pitch problems. In the past, a game there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a damp squib.
That match was a slog, with minimal action and slow play. The latest encounter and that slow Test are extreme ends of the spectrum – neither perfect, yet historical weight can be found in them.
Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the history books.
"This isn't the end of the format at all," commented a veteran. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these two days have been treated to some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the build-up to this Test, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.
The players responded for him, restoring the smile to his persona.
Different players delivered with vital performances. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but something to use as a platform.
At the very least, this Melbourne victory joins other historic performances in meaningless games.
As the fans slipped away into a beautiful night, the team congregated on the turf to start their own festivities.
Savour the moment, men. This victory was hard-fought.