'Did It Not Captivate?' The Reason a 48-Hour Test Deserved Its Status as a Proper Test.

Within a showcase on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a vibrant pink ensemble worn by the entertainer. The performance in front of 100,024 attendees was considered a success.

You might not enjoy the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music known to man. You might take a balanced view, acknowledging that some tracks are belting while others are awful.

The central idea is that amusement can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no one way to produce literature or even the longest format.

The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format

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

The elements, the session, the ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the playing surface.

If Test cricket is a form of art, the strip is the blank slate on which the athletes craft their legacy.

A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle

The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport dismantled and stuck back together in abstract form.

Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the wicket which produced a triumph and the another short match of the series.

Allowing 10mm of grass on the surface, causing 36 wickets falling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.

A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket

But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is mistaken.

The format is a varied portfolio, a long history and still growing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.

The thrillers are even more exciting due to the investment made elsewhere.

Adjustment: The Real Challenge

Certain variables are accepted more easily than others.

The debate in Melbourne was that the equilibrium 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 conditions and responding accordingly. The best individual scores were made by world-class stars. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.

Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View

Try telling the supporters who have experienced 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.

In one section of the MCG, countless fans made noise and created an atmosphere, fostering a party atmosphere in a bastion of national pride.

There was optimism as the fielding side dominated, impetus when players scored quickly, and pure joy when the victory was confirmed.

Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches

The venue has form with pitch problems. In the past, a game there featured a strip with the character of a a damp squib.

That fixture was a slog, with minimal action and endless boredom. The two-day game and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the scale – one is not more perfect, yet historical weight can be attached to them.

Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the history books.

"Far from being the end of the long game at all," commented a veteran. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these two days have been given some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."

Small Victories: Building for the Future

In the preparation to this Test, the leader talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.

The squad responded for him, reinstating the smile to his face.

Emerging talents performed with key contributions. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term stability, but something to use as a platform.

Ultimately, this Melbourne victory is added to other historic performances in meaningless games.

As the supporters departed into a beautiful night, the squad gathered on the field to start their own festivities.

Enjoy the drink, lads. This victory was hard-fought.