'Was That Not a Show?' The Reason a Two-Day Test Deserved Its Status as a Proper Cricket Test.

Displayed inside a display cabinet on the third floor of the MCG sits a neon pink ensemble performed in by the entertainer. The concert in front of 100,024 fans was hailed as a major hit.

Perhaps you don't enjoy Robbie Williams. You might think he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a middle ground, conceding that some tracks are fantastic while others are terrible.

The key argument is that enjoyment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to craft literature or even five-day cricket.

The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format

The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon external factors.

The climate, the session, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the pitch.

If Test cricket is art, the strip is the blank slate on which the players craft their legacy.

An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle

The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the established format dismantled and reassembled in a bizarre shape.

This is not a justification of the pitch which resulted in a victory and the another short match of the Ashes battle.

Leaving excessive grass on the pitch, leading to a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.

A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket

But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is mistaken.

Test cricket is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and ongoing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball moves excessively for the fast men. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.

The exciting finishes are even more exciting due to the investment made during quieter periods.

Adjustment: The Core Skill

Some factors are tolerated more freely than others.

The debate in Melbourne was that the balance was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were unable from playing their natural game.

The format is about problem solving – reading the situation and responding accordingly. The top two individual scores were made by acknowledged stars. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.

Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View

Attempt to convince the devotees who have endured 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.

In one section of the MCG, thousands made noise and chanted, producing a party atmosphere in a stronghold of sport.

There was belief as the fielding side excelled, momentum when players scored quickly, and pure joy when the result was secured.

Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches

The venue has form with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a damp squib.

That contest was a grind, with few wickets and interminable tedium. This recent match and that previous match are polar opposites of the spectrum – both are not ideal, yet historical weight can be found in both.

At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the memory.

"This isn't the demise of the format at all," said a former player. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been treated to some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."

Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope

In the preparation to this match, the captain talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.

The team protected him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his face.

Different players delivered with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term success, but something to use as a platform.

In the end, this triumph joins other memorable performances in dead rubbers.

As the fans slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players gathered on the turf to start their own enjoyment.

Enjoy the drink, lads. It's well deserved.