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

In a glass case on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a vibrant pink outfit worn by Robbie Williams. His performance in front of a hundred thousand spectators was considered a major hit.

You might not appreciate Robbie Williams. You might think he is the greatest gift to music known to man. You might take a reasonable stance, conceding that some hits are fantastic while others are awful.

The key argument is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to create music or even five-day cricket.

The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket

The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on external factors.

The elements, the time of day, the ball – the list is endless. Above all is the pitch.

If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the canvas on which the cricketers create their art.

A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match

The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport broken apart and stuck back together in an unusual manner.

Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the surface which produced a triumph and the another short match of the contest.

Allowing a thick layer on the surface, resulting in numerous dismissals being taken in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between bat and ball.

A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket

But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is incorrect.

The format is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and still growing. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball does all sorts for the fast men. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.

The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling because of the investment devoted during quieter periods.

Adaptation: The Core Skill

Some factors are accepted more readily than others.

The argument in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the attack. That the top batters were unable from showcasing their talents.

This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the conditions and adapting accordingly. The two highest individual scores were made by recognized players. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.

Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective

Try telling the supporters who have experienced years of defeat that this was not entertaining.

In a corner of the MCG, a sea of people waved their flags and created an atmosphere, generating a carnival vibe in a heartland of Australian cricket.

There was optimism as the fielding side dominated, advantage when batters fought back, and pure joy when the win was achieved.

Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches

The Melbourne has form with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a match there featured a pitch with the character of a a damp squib.

That fixture was a grind, with limited drama and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that previous match are extreme ends of the spectrum – neither the standard, yet significance can be attached to both.

At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the memory.

"It's not the end of the long game at all," observed a past champion. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been treated to some real entertainment. Different entertainment."

Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead

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

The players delivered for him, bringing back the smile to his countenance.

Emerging talents stepped up with key contributions. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to ensure long-term success, but something to build on.

In the end, this triumph joins other notable performances in dead rubbers.

As the supporters departed into a beautiful night, the players gathered on the outfield to commence their own festivities.

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