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

Displayed inside a showcase on the upper level of the MCG sits a vibrant pink suit donned by the entertainer. The concert in front of 100,024 spectators was hailed as a major hit.

You might not appreciate his music. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some songs are fantastic while others are awful.

The central idea is that entertainment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no one way to create art or even Test cricket.

The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game

The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on conditions.

The weather, the session, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the pitch.

If the format is a form of art, the pitch is the canvas on which the players craft their legacy.

A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle

The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport dismantled and reassembled in abstract form.

It must be stated this is not a defence of the surface which resulted in a win and the second two-day Test of the contest.

Allowing 10mm of grass on the surface, resulting in a cascade of wickets falling in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between bat and ball.

A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket

But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is mistaken.

Test cricket is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and counting. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.

The thrillers are all the more thrilling due to the time committed during quieter periods.

Problem Solving: The True Test

Some factors are embraced more readily than others.

The contention in Melbourne was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the top batters were unable from showcasing their talents.

This level of cricket is about finding solutions – reading the situation and adapting appropriately. The top two individual innings were made by recognized stars. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.

Pure Elation: The Supporters' View

Go and inform the supporters who have endured years of defeat that this was not entertaining.

In a corner of the stadium, countless fans made noise and created an atmosphere, fostering a party atmosphere in a heartland of sport.

There was hope as the fielding side dominated, impetus when players responded, and rapturous celebration when the win was secured.

Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches

The venue has form with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a match there featured a strip with the excitement of a a damp squib.

That fixture was a marathon, with minimal action and slow play. This recent match and that slow Test are extreme ends of the range – neither ideal, yet value can be found in them.

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

"It's not the death of the format at all," commented a past champion. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been treated to some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."

Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope

In the preparation to this Test, the leader spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.

The team protected him, restoring the positive demeanor to his face.

Emerging talents delivered with key contributions. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to secure long-term success, but a starting point to use as a platform.

At the very least, this Melbourne victory joins other notable performances in similar circumstances.

As the crowd left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players gathered on the turf to begin their own celebrations.

Celebrate the win, boys. You've earned this one.