Displayed inside a showcase on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a neon pink ensemble worn by the entertainer. The concert in front of 100,024 spectators was considered a major hit.
It's possible you enjoy his music. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a balanced view, conceding that some songs are fantastic while others are poor.
The key argument is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to craft art or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on external factors.
The weather, the hour of play, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the playing surface.
If the format is art, the strip is the foundation on which the players create their art.
A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match
The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport dismantled and reconstructed in an unusual manner.
This is not a defence of the surface which resulted in a triumph and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.
Having excessive grass on the surface, causing numerous dismissals tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is incorrect.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, a long history and ongoing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball moves excessively for the fast men. Other times, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are all the more thrilling owing to the patience devoted during quieter periods.
Adjustment: The Core Skill
Some factors are tolerated more easily than others.
The contention in during the match was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the best players were prevented from showcasing their talents.
This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the situation and responding effectively. The two highest individual innings were made by world-class players. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Attempt to convince the fans who have suffered years of defeat that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the stadium, countless fans waved their flags and sang their songs, producing a party atmosphere in a stronghold of Australian cricket.
There was belief as the fielding side dominated, impetus when players fought back, and rapturous celebration when the victory was secured.
Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The venue has a history with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a game there featured a pitch with the character 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 polar opposites of the scale – both are not ideal, yet value can be ascribed to them.
At this stage into the current series, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.
"Far from being the death of the long game at all," observed a past champion. "The people who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been experienced some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."
Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this match, the leader talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.
The squad protected him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his countenance.
Different players stepped up with vital performances. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term success, but a foundation to build on.
In the end, this MCG win is added to other historic performances in dead rubbers.
As the fans left into a stunning sunset, the players gathered on the outfield to start their own celebrations.
Savour the moment, boys. You've earned this one.
