'Was That Not a Show?' The Reason a Two-Day Test Deserved Its Status as a Proper Cricket Test.

Within a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a neon pink outfit donned by Robbie Williams. The concert in front of 100,024 attendees was hailed as a triumph.

You might not enjoy his music. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music in history. Or you could adopt a balanced view, admitting that some tracks are fantastic while others are poor.

The key argument is that amusement can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is not a single method to produce literature or even five-day cricket.

The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format

Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on the environment.

The weather, the time of day, the red ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the pitch.

If the format is art, the wicket is the foundation on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.

A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match

The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the established format broken apart and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.

Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the pitch which produced a victory and the another short match of the Ashes battle.

Leaving a thick layer on the surface, resulting in a cascade of wickets falling in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.

A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket

But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.

The long game is a varied portfolio, a long history and counting. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball does all sorts for the fast men. Other times, it spins sharply on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.

The thrillers are even more exciting owing to the investment devoted in other matches.

Adjustment: The Real Challenge

Some factors are tolerated more freely than others.

The argument in during the match was that the contest was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the best players were hindered from showcasing their talents.

Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the situation and responding appropriately. The two highest individual contributions were made by world-class stars. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.

Pure Elation: The Supporters' View

Attempt to convince the fans who have experienced years of defeat that this was not entertaining.

Among the crowd of the stadium, a sea of people celebrated and sang their songs, generating a party atmosphere in a heartland of Australian cricket.

There was belief as the fielding side surged, impetus when the top order responded, and pure joy when the result was achieved.

Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches

The Melbourne has previous experience with difficult wickets. In the past, a game there featured a wicket with the character of a a damp squib.

That fixture was a marathon, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that slow Test are polar opposites of the spectrum – both are not ideal, yet historical weight can be attached to each.

Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.

"Far from being the end of the format at all," commented a past champion. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been treated to some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."

Baby Steps: Building for the Future

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

The squad responded for him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his countenance.

New faces performed with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to secure long-term success, but a starting point to develop from.

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

As the crowd departed into a beautiful night, the team congregated on the turf to begin their own enjoyment.

Enjoy the drink, lads. It's well deserved.