'Are You Not Entertained?' Why a 48-Hour Test Deserved Its Status as a Authentic Test Match.

Within a showcase on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a electric pink suit worn by Robbie Williams. The show in front of a massive crowd of spectators was seen as a success.

It's possible you like Robbie Williams. You might think he is the finest offering to music in history. Or you could adopt a middle ground, conceding that some tracks are fantastic while others are poor.

The point being is that entertainment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to craft literature or even the longest format.

The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game

The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon the environment.

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

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

A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle

The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the established format taken to pieces and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.

It must be stated this is not a justification of the surface which produced a win and the second two-day Test of the series.

Having excessive grass on the wicket, leading to 36 wickets falling in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.

A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket

But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is mistaken.

The long game is a rich tapestry, a long history and ongoing. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the fast men. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.

The thrillers are particularly captivating due to the investment committed during quieter periods.

Adaptation: The True Test

Specific conditions are tolerated more easily than others.

The argument in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the best players were prevented from showcasing their talents.

The format is about problem solving – interpreting the conditions and adapting effectively. The two highest individual innings were made by world-class stars. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.

Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited

Go and inform the devotees who have endured a long drought that this lacked spectacle.

Among the crowd of the ground, thousands celebrated and sang their songs, generating a party atmosphere in a bastion of national pride.

There was hope as the attack excelled, advantage when the top order scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the victory was secured.

Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches

The MCG has form with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a wicket with the character of a a non-event.

That contest was a slog, with limited drama and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the range – one is not more the standard, yet significance can be ascribed to them.

Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the history books.

"It's not the demise of Test cricket at all," commented a veteran. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been given some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."

Baby Steps: Looking Ahead

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

The squad responded for him, bringing back the smile to his persona.

Emerging talents performed with key contributions. These are small positives, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a starting point to use as a platform.

Ultimately, this triumph is added to other historic performances in dead rubbers.

As the fans departed into a stunning sunset, the players congregated on the field to begin their own festivities.

Savour the moment, lads. This victory was hard-fought.