'Did It Not Captivate?' The Reason a Two-Day Test Deserved Its Status as a Authentic Test Match.

Within a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a electric pink suit donned by the pop star. His performance in front of a hundred thousand fans was considered a success.

It's possible you enjoy the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, acknowledging that some hits are fantastic while others are poor.

The central idea is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to produce art or even Test cricket.

The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format

The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by the environment.

The climate, the time of day, the ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the wicket.

If Test cricket is a form of art, the strip is the canvas on which the players paint their masterpiece.

A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle

The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the great game dismantled and reassembled in a bizarre shape.

It must be stated this is not a justification of the pitch which yielded a win and the another short match of the contest.

Allowing excessive grass on the wicket, leading to numerous dismissals tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.

A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket

But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is incorrect.

The format is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and counting. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.

The thrillers are all the more thrilling because of the patience devoted elsewhere.

Adaptation: The Real Challenge

Certain variables are accepted more readily than others.

The argument in Melbourne was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the top batters were hindered from playing their natural game.

Test cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the situation and adapting accordingly. The two highest individual contributions were made by recognized players. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.

Pure Elation: The Supporters' View

Go and inform the supporters who have endured a long drought that this lacked spectacle.

In a corner of the ground, a sea of people made noise and chanted, fostering a party atmosphere in a bastion of national pride.

There was optimism as the bowlers excelled, momentum when players responded, and rapturous celebration when the result was confirmed.

Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches

The Melbourne has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Previously, a Test there featured a wicket with the character of a a non-event.

That fixture was a slog, with few wickets and endless boredom. The two-day game and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – neither perfect, yet value can be ascribed to them.

Deep into the series into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the history books.

"This isn't the end of the long game at all," said a past champion. "Fans who have been privileged to see these short time have been experienced some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."

Small Victories: Looking Ahead

In the lead-in to this match, the skipper talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.

The players protected him, bringing back the joy to his face.

Different players delivered with vital performances. These are small positives, certainly not enough to ensure long-term stability, but something to build on.

Ultimately, this MCG win is added to other historic performances in dead rubbers.

As the fans departed into a beautiful night, the players gathered on the outfield to commence their own celebrations.

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