'Did It Not Captivate?' The Reason a 48-Hour Test Was No Less a Genuine Cricket Test.

In a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a neon pink outfit performed in by the entertainer. The concert in front of a massive crowd of fans was hailed as a success.

It's possible you like Robbie Williams. You might think he is the greatest gift to music in history. Or you could adopt a balanced view, conceding that some hits are fantastic while others are awful.

The central idea is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is not a single method to produce literature or even the longest format.

The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket

The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on the environment.

The climate, the session, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the wicket.

If the long game is a form of art, the strip is the canvas on which the athletes create their art.

A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match

The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the established format broken apart and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.

It must be stated this is not a justification of the wicket which resulted in a triumph and the another short match of the contest.

Having 10mm of grass on the pitch, leading to 36 wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between bat and ball.

A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket

But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is mistaken.

The long game is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and still growing. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball moves excessively for the fast men. Other times, it turns square on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.

The thrillers are even more exciting owing to the investment devoted during quieter periods.

Problem Solving: The Real Challenge

Some factors are embraced more readily than others.

The debate in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the top batters were unable from showcasing their talents.

The format is about problem solving – interpreting the wicket and adjusting effectively. The top two individual scores were made by world-class batters. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.

Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited

Attempt to convince the fans who have suffered years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.

Among the crowd of the stadium, a sea of people celebrated and sang their songs, generating a festive mood in a heartland of Australian cricket.

There was hope as the attack excelled, advantage when players fought back, and rapturous celebration when the victory was confirmed.

Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches

The venue has form with pitch problems. Previously, a game there featured a wicket with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.

That contest was a marathon, with minimal action and slow play. The two-day game and that slow Test are extreme ends of the range – both are not perfect, yet significance can be attached to each.

At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the collective consciousness.

"It's not the death of Test cricket at all," commented a past champion. "Fans who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been given some fantastic sport. A unique show."

Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope

In the build-up to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.

The squad responded for him, reinstating the joy to his face.

Different players delivered with crucial roles. These are small positives, hardly enough to ensure long-term stability, but a foundation to develop from.

In the end, this triumph joins other historic performances in similar circumstances.

As the fans departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players gathered on the field to begin their own celebrations.

Celebrate the win, boys. It's well deserved.