'Was That Not a Show?' The Reason a Two-Day Test Was No Less a Proper Test Match.

Within a glass case on the third floor of the MCG is housed a electric pink suit performed in by the pop star. The performance in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a major hit.

It's possible you like his music. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some tracks are excellent while others are poor.

The key argument is that entertainment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no one way to craft literature or even five-day cricket.

The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format

The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on external factors.

The climate, the hour of play, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the wicket.

If Test cricket is a form of art, the strip is the canvas on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.

A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match

The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport dismantled and reassembled in a bizarre shape.

This is not a defence of the surface which resulted in a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.

Leaving excessive grass on the pitch, resulting in numerous dismissals being taken in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.

A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket

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

The format is a varied portfolio, a long history and ongoing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it turns square on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.

The close matches are even more exciting due to the patience committed during quieter periods.

Adaptation: The Real Challenge

Certain variables are tolerated more readily than others.

The argument in at the MCG was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were prevented from showcasing their talents.

The format is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the conditions and adapting accordingly. The two highest individual innings were made by acknowledged players. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.

Pure Elation: The Supporters' View

Try telling the fans who have experienced years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.

Among the crowd of the ground, countless fans waved their flags and sang their songs, generating a festive mood in a bastion of sport.

There was optimism as the attack surged, advantage when batters scored quickly, and unconditional love when the victory was confirmed.

Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches

The MCG has form with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a wicket with all the life of a a damp squib.

That fixture was a grind, with limited drama and endless boredom. This recent match and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the spectrum – one is not more the standard, yet significance can be found in them.

Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.

"It's not the death of the long game at all," said a veteran. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been experienced some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."

Small Victories: Building for the Future

In the preparation to this match, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.

The squad responded for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his countenance.

New faces performed with vital performances. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to secure long-term stability, but something to develop from.

Ultimately, this triumph joins other historic performances in meaningless games.

As the crowd departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team congregated on the turf to begin their own enjoyment.

Enjoy the drink, boys. This victory was hard-fought.