'Was That Not a Show?' Why a 48-Hour Test Deserved Its Status as a Genuine Test.

Displayed inside a glass case on the third floor of the MCG sits a vibrant pink ensemble performed in by the pop star. The concert in front of a hundred thousand spectators was considered a triumph.

Perhaps you don't like his music. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. You might take a balanced view, acknowledging that some tracks are belting while others are awful.

The point being is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is not a single method to craft art or even the longest format.

The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format

The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on external factors.

The elements, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the wicket.

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

An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match

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

It must be stated this is not a justification of the surface which resulted in a win and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.

Allowing excessive grass on the wicket, leading to numerous dismissals being taken in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.

A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket

But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.

The format is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and still growing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Other times, it grips and turns on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.

The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling due to the patience committed in other matches.

Adjustment: The Real Challenge

Certain variables are embraced more freely than others.

The debate in at the MCG was that the balance was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the top batters were unable from playing their natural game.

Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the wicket and responding accordingly. The two highest individual contributions were made by world-class players. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.

Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View

Attempt to convince the fans who have suffered 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.

In one section of the stadium, countless fans waved their flags and sang their songs, generating a carnival vibe in a stronghold of national pride.

There was optimism as the fielding side excelled, impetus when players responded, and rapturous celebration when the win was secured.

Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches

The MCG has previous experience with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a match there featured a wicket with the character of a a non-event.

That fixture was a grind, with limited drama and slow play. The two-day game and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the range – both are not the standard, yet significance can be attached to each.

Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the history books.

"It's not the death of the long game at all," commented a veteran. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been experienced some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."

Small Victories: Building for the Future

In the preparation to this match, the skipper talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.

The team delivered for him, bringing back the joy to his persona.

Different players performed with vital performances. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term success, but a foundation to build on.

At the very least, this Melbourne victory joins other notable performances in dead rubbers.

As the crowd left into a beautiful night, the players assembled on the field to start their own celebrations.

Celebrate the win, lads. This victory was hard-fought.