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

Within a display cabinet on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a electric pink outfit donned by Robbie Williams. The performance in front of a massive crowd of attendees was considered a major hit.

It's possible you like his music. You might think he is the finest offering to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some hits are fantastic while others are poor.

The central idea is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to produce music or even the longest format.

The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format

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

The elements, the session, the red ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the playing surface.

If the long game is art, the strip is the blank slate on which the cricketers craft their legacy.

An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test

The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the great game dismantled and reconstructed in abstract form.

Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the wicket which resulted in a triumph and the another short match of the series.

Leaving excessive grass on the pitch, resulting in 36 wickets being taken in less than two days, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.

A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket

But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is incorrect.

The long game is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and counting. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.

The thrillers are all the more thrilling owing to the investment devoted in other matches.

Adaptation: The True Test

Specific conditions are tolerated more readily than others.

The contention in Melbourne was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were prevented from showcasing their talents.

This level of cricket is about problem solving – reading the situation and responding effectively. The two highest individual innings were made by recognized stars. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.

Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective

Attempt to convince the fans who have suffered 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.

In one section of the ground, countless fans waved their flags and chanted, producing a festive mood in a bastion of Australian cricket.

There was hope as the fielding side surged, momentum when players fought back, and pure joy when the win was secured.

Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches

The MCG has form with difficult wickets. Previously, a game there featured a pitch with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.

That contest was a slog, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the range – neither ideal, yet significance can be found in each.

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

"Far from being the end of the format at all," observed a veteran. "The people who have been fortunate to see these short time have been given some real entertainment. A unique show."

Signs of Progress: Building for the Future

In the build-up to this Test, the leader talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.

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

Emerging talents performed with key contributions. These are baby steps, hardly enough to ensure long-term success, but a foundation to build on.

In the end, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other historic performances in similar circumstances.

As the supporters slipped away into a stunning sunset, the team congregated on the field to commence their own enjoyment.

Savour the moment, men. You've earned this one.