'Was That Not a Show?' The Reason a 48-Hour Test Remained Every Bit a Authentic Cricket Test.

In a display cabinet on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a neon pink outfit worn by the pop star. His concert in front of a hundred thousand spectators was hailed as a success.

You might not appreciate his music. You might think he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Or you could adopt a middle ground, conceding that some tracks are fantastic while others are terrible.

The central idea is that enjoyment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to craft literature or even Test cricket.

The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket

The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon external factors.

The weather, the time of day, the red ball – the list is endless. Most important is the playing surface.

If the format is a form of art, the wicket is the canvas on which the athletes craft their legacy.

An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match

The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the established format broken apart and stuck back together in abstract form.

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.

Leaving 10mm of grass on the pitch, causing 36 wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.

A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket

But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is mistaken.

The format is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and still growing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.

The exciting finishes are even more exciting owing to the patience committed elsewhere.

Adjustment: The True Test

Some factors are embraced more readily than others.

The contention in during the match was that the contest was tipped too far towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were prevented from playing their natural game.

This level of cricket is about finding solutions – reading the situation and responding effectively. The two highest individual contributions were made by world-class players. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.

Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective

Attempt to convince the supporters who have suffered 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.

Among the crowd of the stadium, a sea of people celebrated and created an atmosphere, fostering a party atmosphere in a heartland of national pride.

There was optimism as the fielding side surged, impetus when players scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the victory was secured.

Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches

The Melbourne has form with pitch problems. In the past, a Test there featured a pitch with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.

That match was a slog, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that previous match are extreme ends of the range – both are not perfect, yet value can be attached to them.

At this stage into the current series, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the memory.

"This isn't the death of the format at all," observed a former player. "Fans who have been privileged to see these two days have been experienced some real entertainment. Different entertainment."

Baby Steps: Building for the Future

In the build-up to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.

The squad responded for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his countenance.

New faces delivered with vital performances. These are baby steps, hardly enough to secure long-term futures, but a starting point to develop from.

At the very least, this triumph is added to other historic performances in dead rubbers.

As the supporters left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players congregated on the outfield to start their own festivities.

Savour the moment, lads. It's well deserved.