Within a display cabinet on the upper level of the MCG is housed a neon pink suit worn by the pop star. The show in front of a massive crowd of fans was considered a major hit.
You might not appreciate his music. You might think he is the greatest gift to music known to man. You might take a balanced view, conceding that some tracks are belting while others are poor.
The key argument is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no one way to craft art or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game
The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by conditions.
The elements, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Most important is the wicket.
If the format is art, the pitch is the foundation on which the cricketers create their art.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reconstructed in abstract form.
This is not a justification of the surface which resulted in a win and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Allowing a thick layer on the pitch, leading to 36 wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, a long history and counting. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Other times, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.
The close matches are all the more thrilling owing to the patience committed elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The Core Skill
Specific conditions are embraced more freely than others.
The debate in during the match was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the best players were unable from playing their natural game.
The format is about adapting to challenges – reading the situation and responding appropriately. The best individual contributions were made by acknowledged stars. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.
Pure Elation: The Supporters' View
Try telling the supporters who have experienced years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the stadium, thousands made noise and sang their songs, fostering a carnival vibe in a bastion of national pride.
There was hope as the bowlers surged, advantage when the top order responded, and rapturous celebration when the victory was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has a history with controversial surfaces. Previously, a Test there featured a wicket with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a grind, with limited drama and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – both are not the standard, yet historical weight can be ascribed to each.
At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the history books.
"It's not the death of the long game at all," said a veteran. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been treated to some genuine drama. A unique show."
Baby Steps: Looking Ahead
In the lead-in to this match, the skipper talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.
The squad protected him, restoring the joy to his face.
Different players performed with key contributions. These are baby steps, hardly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but something to build on.
Ultimately, this MCG win takes its place among other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the crowd departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team congregated on the turf to commence their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, men. You've earned this one.
