'Was That Not a Show?' The Reason a Two-Day Test Remained Every Bit a Proper Test Match.

In a showcase on the upper level of the MCG sits a electric pink outfit worn by the pop star. The show in front of a hundred thousand fans was hailed as a triumph.

It's possible you like his music. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music in history. You might take a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some songs are fantastic while others are awful.

The key argument is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is no one way to craft literature or even Test cricket.

The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game

The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by external factors.

The climate, the time of day, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the playing surface.

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

An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match

The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport broken apart and reconstructed in an unusual manner.

It must be stated this is not a defence of the surface which yielded a win and the another short match of the contest.

Leaving excessive grass on the wicket, resulting in a cascade of wickets being taken in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between offense and defense.

A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket

But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is mistaken.

Test cricket is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and counting. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.

The close matches are even more exciting owing to the time devoted during quieter periods.

Adjustment: The True Test

Certain variables are tolerated more easily than others.

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

Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the conditions and adjusting effectively. The best individual contributions were made by acknowledged players. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.

Pure Elation: The Supporters' View

Attempt to convince the supporters who have suffered 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.

Among the crowd of the stadium, thousands made noise and chanted, generating a carnival vibe in a stronghold of Australian cricket.

There was belief as the attack surged, advantage when batters fought back, and pure joy when the victory was confirmed.

Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches

The venue has a history with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a strip with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.

That contest was a slog, with minimal action and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the scale – one is not more ideal, yet significance can be ascribed to both.

Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.

"This isn't the death of the format at all," observed a veteran. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been experienced some real entertainment. Different entertainment."

Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope

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

The players delivered for him, restoring the joy to his countenance.

Different players stepped up with vital performances. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to ensure long-term futures, but a foundation to use as a platform.

Ultimately, this Melbourne victory joins other historic performances in similar circumstances.

As the crowd left into a beautiful night, the players gathered on the outfield to commence their own enjoyment.

Savour the moment, lads. It's well deserved.