'Was That Not a Show?' The Reason a 48-Hour Match Was No Less a Genuine Test Match.

Displayed inside a glass case on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a neon pink ensemble performed in by the pop star. His concert in front of a hundred thousand spectators was considered a major hit.

Perhaps you don't like his music. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music known to man. You might take a balanced view, acknowledging that some songs are fantastic while others are terrible.

The point being is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no one way to craft music or even five-day cricket.

The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket

The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on external factors.

The weather, the session, the red ball – the list is endless. Most important is the pitch.

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

An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle

The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.

It must be stated this is not a defence of the surface which produced a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.

Having excessive grass on the wicket, resulting in a cascade of wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between bat and ball.

A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket

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

The format is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and counting. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it turns square on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.

The thrillers are particularly captivating due to the investment made elsewhere.

Adaptation: The True Test

Specific conditions are embraced more readily than others.

The contention in Melbourne was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were hindered from demonstrating their skill.

Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the wicket and responding appropriately. The two highest individual contributions were made by world-class players. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.

Pure Elation: The Supporters' View

Go and inform the supporters who have suffered a long drought that this was not entertaining.

In one section of the ground, a sea of people celebrated and created an atmosphere, generating a party atmosphere in a bastion of sport.

There was optimism as the attack surged, advantage when batters fought back, and unconditional love when the victory was confirmed.

Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches

The MCG has previous experience with pitch problems. In the past, a game there featured a wicket with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.

That contest was a marathon, with limited drama and interminable tedium. This recent match and that previous match are extreme ends of the range – neither the standard, yet historical weight can be ascribed to both.

Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.

"This isn't the demise of Test cricket at all," observed a veteran. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been given some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."

Baby Steps: Looking Ahead

In the build-up to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.

The team responded for him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his countenance.

Different players delivered with crucial roles. These are small positives, certainly not enough to secure long-term success, but a foundation to develop from.

In the end, this MCG win joins other memorable performances in similar circumstances.

As the fans departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team assembled on the turf to begin their own celebrations.

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