In a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a neon pink ensemble worn by the pop star. The concert in front of a hundred thousand fans was considered a major hit.
You might not appreciate his music. You might think he is the finest offering to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, acknowledging that some tracks are excellent while others are awful.
The key argument is that entertainment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to craft music or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon the environment.
The elements, the time of day, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is art, the wicket is the foundation on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the established format broken apart and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.
This is not a justification of the wicket which resulted in a win and the second two-day Test of the contest.
Leaving a thick layer on the pitch, causing 36 wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.
A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is incorrect.
The format is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and ongoing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. Other times, it turns square on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are particularly captivating because of the investment devoted in other matches.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Specific conditions are embraced more easily than others.
The debate in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the top batters were hindered from showcasing their talents.
The format is about problem solving – interpreting the situation and responding accordingly. The top two individual contributions were made by acknowledged batters. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited
Attempt to convince the supporters who have suffered a long drought that this was not entertaining.
Among the crowd of the ground, thousands waved their flags and sang their songs, fostering a carnival vibe in a bastion of national pride.
There was optimism as the fielding side excelled, advantage when players responded, and pure joy when the win was confirmed.
Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has form with pitch problems. Previously, a game there featured a wicket with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That fixture was a marathon, with few wickets and slow play. The two-day game and that slow Test are polar opposites of the range – both are not the standard, yet value can be ascribed to them.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the memory.
"This isn't the demise of the format at all," said a former player. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these two days have been given some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead
In the build-up to this match, the leader spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The team delivered for him, reinstating the smile to his face.
Emerging talents stepped up with vital performances. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to secure long-term futures, but a foundation to develop from.
In the end, this Melbourne victory is added to other notable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad gathered on the outfield to commence their own enjoyment.
Celebrate the win, lads. You've earned this one.
