'Did It Not Captivate?' The Reason a 48-Hour Fixture Was No Less a Proper Test.

In a showcase on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a vibrant pink outfit worn by the pop star. The concert in front of a massive crowd of attendees was considered a major hit.

Perhaps you don't enjoy Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a balanced view, acknowledging that some songs are belting while others are poor.

The point being is that amusement can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is not a single method to create art or even five-day cricket.

The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game

The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on conditions.

The climate, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the playing surface.

If the long game is art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the players craft their legacy.

A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match

The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport broken apart and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.

Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the wicket which produced a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.

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

A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket

But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is mistaken.

The format is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and counting. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the ball moves excessively for the fast men. Sometimes, it turns square on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.

The thrillers are all the more thrilling due to the patience made during quieter periods.

Adaptation: The Real Challenge

Specific conditions are accepted more freely than others.

The contention in at the MCG was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the best players were unable from demonstrating their skill.

The format is about problem solving – interpreting the wicket and adapting appropriately. The top two individual innings were made by world-class batters. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.

Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited

Try telling the devotees who have suffered years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.

Among the crowd of the MCG, countless fans waved their flags and created an atmosphere, producing a carnival vibe in a heartland of national pride.

There was hope as the bowlers surged, advantage when players scored quickly, and unconditional love when the result was achieved.

Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches

The MCG has form with difficult wickets. In the past, a Test there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a damp squib.

That contest was a grind, with minimal action and slow play. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the spectrum – neither ideal, yet value can be attached to both.

At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the memory.

"Far from being the death of the format at all," observed a veteran. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these short time have been treated to some genuine drama. A unique show."

Baby Steps: Looking Ahead

In the lead-in to this match, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.

The squad delivered for him, reinstating the smile to his countenance.

New faces delivered with key contributions. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to secure long-term success, but a starting point to use as a platform.

At the very least, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other notable performances in meaningless games.

As the fans left into a beautiful night, the players assembled on the turf to begin their own festivities.

Enjoy the drink, lads. You've earned this one.