'Was That Not a Show?' The Reason a 48-Hour Fixture Deserved Its Status as a Proper Cricket Test.

Displayed inside a glass case on the third floor of the MCG sits a neon pink ensemble performed in by Robbie Williams. The performance in front of a massive crowd of attendees was seen as a major hit.

Perhaps you don't like the performer. You might think he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a balanced view, admitting that some hits are excellent while others are poor.

The key argument is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no one way to craft music or even Test cricket.

The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket

The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on the environment.

The climate, the hour of play, the red ball – the list is endless. Most important is the wicket.

If the long game is a form of art, the pitch is the foundation on which the athletes craft their legacy.

A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle

The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the great game broken apart and reconstructed in abstract form.

It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the surface which resulted in a victory and the another short match of the contest.

Leaving a thick layer on the pitch, causing a cascade of wickets falling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.

A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket

But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is incorrect.

The long game is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and ongoing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Other times, it turns square on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.

The close matches are all the more thrilling due to the investment committed elsewhere.

Problem Solving: The Core Skill

Certain variables are embraced more easily than others.

The debate in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the top batters were prevented from demonstrating their skill.

The format is about finding solutions – assessing the wicket and adjusting accordingly. The two highest individual scores were made by recognized players. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.

Pure Elation: The Supporters' View

Go and inform the supporters who have suffered a long drought that this wasn't compelling.

In a corner of the stadium, a sea of people waved their flags and sang their songs, fostering a carnival vibe in a stronghold of Australian cricket.

There was optimism as the fielding side dominated, advantage when players scored quickly, and pure joy when the win was secured.

Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches

The venue has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a match there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a non-event.

That match was a marathon, with limited drama and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – neither the standard, yet value can be found in both.

Deep into the series into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the history books.

"Far from being the end of the format at all," commented a past champion. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these two days have been given some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."

Small Victories: Building for the Future

In the lead-in to this Test, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.

The players delivered for him, bringing back the smile to his persona.

New faces performed with key contributions. These are small positives, hardly enough to ensure long-term stability, but a starting point to develop from.

At the very least, this Melbourne victory is added to other memorable performances in dead rubbers.

As the crowd left into a stunning sunset, the squad congregated on the field to start their own festivities.

Savour the moment, men. You've earned this one.