'Was That Not a Show?' Why a Two-Day Match Remained Every Bit a Authentic Test.

Within a glass case on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a electric pink suit worn by the pop star. The concert in front of a hundred thousand attendees was seen as a success.

You might not appreciate Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Or you could adopt a balanced view, conceding that some hits are belting while others are terrible.

The key argument is that enjoyment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is no one way to craft literature or even Test cricket.

The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game

The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon external factors.

The weather, the session, the ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the playing surface.

If Test cricket is art, the strip is the foundation on which the cricketers create their art.

A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle

The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the established format taken to pieces and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.

It must be stated this is not a justification of the surface which produced a triumph and the another short match of the Ashes battle.

Having a thick layer on the wicket, leading to a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between offense and defense.

A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket

But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is mistaken.

Test cricket is a varied portfolio, a long history and still growing. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the fast men. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.

The exciting finishes are even more exciting owing to the investment made in other matches.

Adjustment: The True Test

Some factors are accepted more freely than others.

The argument in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the top batters were hindered from showcasing their talents.

This level of cricket is about problem solving – reading the conditions and adjusting effectively. The top two individual scores were made by acknowledged stars. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.

Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View

Go and inform the fans who have suffered a long drought that this was not entertaining.

In a corner of the MCG, a sea of people made noise and created an atmosphere, producing a party atmosphere in a heartland of sport.

There was hope as the bowlers surged, advantage when batters fought back, and unconditional love when the result was confirmed.

Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches

The MCG has a history with difficult wickets. Previously, a game there featured a pitch with the character of a a damp squib.

That match was a marathon, with few wickets and endless boredom. This recent match and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the spectrum – one is not more the standard, yet historical weight can be found in them.

Deep into the series into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the collective consciousness.

"It's not the demise of the format at all," commented a past champion. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been experienced some real entertainment. A unique show."

Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope

In the lead-in to this match, the captain talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.

The team protected him, reinstating the smile to his countenance.

Emerging talents stepped up with vital performances. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term success, but a starting point to build on.

In the end, this Melbourne victory is added to other notable performances in meaningless games.

As the crowd slipped away into a beautiful night, the squad assembled on the turf to start their own celebrations.

Enjoy the drink, boys. You've earned this one.