'Was That Not a Show?' The Reason a Two-Day Fixture Deserved Its Status as a Genuine Test Match.

In a glass case on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a electric pink outfit performed in by the entertainer. The performance in front of 100,024 attendees was hailed as a success.

You might not appreciate Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the finest offering to music known to man. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, conceding that some hits are belting while others are terrible.

The central idea is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to produce art or even Test cricket.

The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket

The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon external factors.

The elements, the time of day, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the playing surface.

If the format is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the blank slate on which the athletes craft their legacy.

A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test

The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the great game broken apart and reconstructed in an unusual manner.

It must be stated this is not a justification of the wicket which yielded a victory and the second two-day Test of the contest.

Having excessive grass on the pitch, resulting in numerous dismissals tumbling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.

A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket

But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.

Test cricket is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and ongoing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. Sometimes, it turns square on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.

The thrillers are particularly captivating because of the investment devoted during quieter periods.

Problem Solving: The Real Challenge

Specific conditions are accepted more freely than others.

The argument in during the match was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were hindered from showcasing their talents.

The format is about finding solutions – reading the wicket and adapting effectively. The two highest individual innings were made by acknowledged batters. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.

Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited

Attempt to convince the devotees who have experienced years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.

In a corner of the ground, thousands waved their flags and sang their songs, fostering a carnival vibe in a heartland of national pride.

There was optimism as the bowlers dominated, impetus when players fought back, and rapturous celebration when the victory was secured.

Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches

The MCG has previous experience with pitch problems. Previously, a match there featured a pitch with all the life of a a non-event.

That fixture was a marathon, with limited drama and slow play. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the range – both are not perfect, yet value can be attached to each.

Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the collective consciousness.

"This isn't the death of the format at all," observed a past champion. "The people who have been fortunate to see these short time have been treated to some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."

Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope

In the lead-in to this match, the skipper talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.

The team protected him, bringing back the smile to his face.

Emerging talents performed with key contributions. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a foundation to build on.

At the very least, this MCG win joins other historic performances in meaningless games.

As the fans departed into a beautiful night, the players assembled on the field to begin their own enjoyment.

Enjoy the drink, boys. It's well deserved.