'Did It Not Captivate?' Why a 48-Hour Test Deserved Its Status as a Authentic Cricket Test.

In a showcase on the third floor of the MCG sits a vibrant pink ensemble donned by the pop star. The performance in front of a hundred thousand spectators was seen as a major hit.

It's possible you enjoy his music. You might think he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. You might take a balanced view, admitting that some hits are belting while others are awful.

The key argument is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is no one way to produce art or even five-day cricket.

The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket

The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by conditions.

The weather, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the pitch.

If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the canvas on which the athletes create their art.

An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle

The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the established format taken to pieces and reassembled in an unusual manner.

Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the surface which resulted in a victory and the another short match of the contest.

Leaving a thick layer on the surface, leading to numerous dismissals falling in less than two days, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.

A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket

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

The format is a rich tapestry, a long history and counting. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Other times, it grips and turns on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.

The thrillers are all the more thrilling because of the time made elsewhere.

Adaptation: The Real Challenge

Certain variables are tolerated more easily than others.

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

Test cricket is about finding solutions – assessing the conditions and responding accordingly. The top two individual scores were made by world-class players. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.

Pure Elation: The Supporters' View

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

In a corner of the MCG, countless fans made noise and created an atmosphere, fostering a carnival vibe in a bastion of sport.

There was hope as the fielding side dominated, impetus when batters fought back, and rapturous celebration when the result was secured.

Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches

The MCG has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Previously, a Test there featured a wicket with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.

That contest was a grind, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that previous match are extreme ends of the range – both are not the standard, yet historical weight can be attached to both.

Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.

"It's not the demise of the format at all," observed a former player. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been treated to some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."

Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope

In the lead-in to this match, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.

The players protected him, restoring the smile to his face.

Emerging talents performed with vital performances. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to ensure long-term futures, but a foundation to develop from.

Ultimately, this triumph takes its place among other memorable performances in dead rubbers.

As the fans slipped away into a beautiful night, the squad congregated on the field to commence their own festivities.

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