'Was That Not a Show?' Why a Two-Day Fixture Was No Less a Proper Test Match.

Within a showcase on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a neon pink ensemble worn by the pop star. His concert in front of a hundred thousand spectators was hailed as a success.

It's possible you like Robbie Williams. You might think he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Or you could adopt a middle ground, conceding that some songs are excellent while others are terrible.

The point being is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to create literature or even the longest format.

The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format

The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by the environment.

The climate, the hour of play, the red ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the pitch.

If the format is a form of art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the cricketers craft their legacy.

A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match

The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the great game dismantled and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.

It must be stated this is not a justification of the pitch which resulted in a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.

Allowing a thick layer on the surface, causing numerous dismissals tumbling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between offense and defense.

A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket

But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.

Test cricket is a diverse canvas, a long history and still growing. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the ball moves excessively for the seamers. Other times, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.

The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling owing to the patience devoted elsewhere.

Adjustment: The Core Skill

Specific conditions are embraced more readily than others.

The contention in Melbourne was that the contest was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the top batters were unable from demonstrating their skill.

This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the wicket and adapting accordingly. The top two individual contributions were made by recognized stars. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.

Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited

Try telling the supporters who have endured years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.

In a corner of the stadium, countless fans celebrated and created an atmosphere, producing a festive mood in a bastion of national pride.

There was belief as the attack dominated, advantage when batters scored quickly, and pure joy when the result was achieved.

Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches

The venue has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Previously, a match there featured a pitch with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.

That match was a grind, with minimal action and slow play. The two-day game and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – both are not the standard, yet significance can be attached to them.

Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.

"Far from being the demise of the long game at all," said a veteran. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been experienced some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."

Small Victories: Building for the Future

In the preparation to this match, the leader spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.

The team responded for him, restoring the smile to his face.

New faces performed with crucial roles. These are small positives, not nearly enough to secure long-term futures, but a foundation to develop from.

At the very least, this MCG win is added to other memorable performances in meaningless games.

As the crowd departed into a stunning sunset, the team assembled on the outfield to start their own celebrations.

Celebrate the win, boys. You've earned this one.