'Was That Not a Show?' The Reason a 48-Hour Match Was No Less a Authentic Test Match.

Within a glass case on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a electric pink outfit performed in by Robbie Williams. His performance in front of a massive crowd of fans was hailed as a success.

You might not like his music. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music in history. You might take a middle ground, conceding that some hits are fantastic while others are terrible.

The point being is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to produce literature or even the longest format.

The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game

The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon external factors.

The climate, the time of day, the ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the wicket.

If the format is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the canvas on which the cricketers create their art.

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 reassembled in an unusual manner.

This is not a endorsement of the pitch which yielded a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.

Allowing a thick layer on the surface, causing a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between offense and defense.

A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket

But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.

Test cricket is a rich tapestry, a long history and counting. At times, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. Sometimes, it turns square on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.

The exciting finishes are particularly captivating because of the investment committed during quieter periods.

Adjustment: The Real Challenge

Certain variables are tolerated more readily than others.

The contention in at the MCG was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were prevented from demonstrating their skill.

Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the situation and responding effectively. The two highest individual contributions were made by world-class players. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.

Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View

Attempt to convince the supporters who have endured years of defeat that this was not entertaining.

In a corner of the MCG, thousands made noise and chanted, fostering a carnival vibe in a bastion of sport.

There was belief as the attack surged, momentum when batters scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the win was confirmed.

Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches

The MCG has previous experience with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a game there featured a strip with the excitement of a a damp squib.

That contest was a slog, with few wickets and slow play. This recent match and that slow Test are polar opposites of the scale – both are not ideal, yet significance can be attached to each.

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

"It's not the death of Test cricket at all," said a veteran. "The people who have been fortunate to see these two days have been treated to some real entertainment. Different entertainment."

Baby Steps: Building for the Future

In the preparation to this Test, the captain spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.

The squad delivered for him, restoring the smile to his persona.

Different players stepped up with vital performances. These are small positives, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term futures, but something to build on.

In the end, this Melbourne victory joins other historic performances in similar circumstances.

As the supporters slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad congregated on the field to commence their own celebrations.

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