'Was That Not a Show?' Why a 48-Hour Test Deserved Its Status as a Genuine Test Match.

Within a showcase on the third floor of the MCG is housed a neon pink outfit worn by Robbie Williams. The concert in front of 100,024 attendees was considered a major hit.

You might not enjoy the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some hits are fantastic while others are awful.

The point being is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to produce literature or even Test cricket.

The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format

Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon external factors.

The climate, the session, the red ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the wicket.

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

An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test

The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the great game taken to pieces and reassembled in an unusual manner.

Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the surface which yielded a win and the second two-day Test of the series.

Having 10mm of grass on the wicket, causing 36 wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.

A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket

But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is incorrect.

Test cricket is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and counting. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Other times, it spins sharply on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.

The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling due to the patience devoted in other matches.

Adaptation: The Core Skill

Certain variables are embraced more easily than others.

The debate in at the MCG was that the balance was tipped too far towards the attack. That the best players were unable from playing their natural game.

This level of cricket is about problem solving – reading the wicket and adapting effectively. The two highest individual contributions were made by acknowledged batters. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.

Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View

Attempt to convince the supporters who have experienced a long drought that this wasn't compelling.

In a corner of the MCG, thousands made noise and created an atmosphere, generating a party atmosphere in a heartland of national pride.

There was belief as the attack surged, advantage when players scored quickly, and unconditional love when the win was achieved.

Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches

The Melbourne has previous experience with controversial surfaces. In the past, a match there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a non-event.

That contest was a grind, with few wickets and slow play. The latest encounter and that previous match are polar opposites of the spectrum – one is not more the standard, yet historical weight can be found in both.

At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the memory.

"Far from being the demise of the long game at all," observed a past champion. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been experienced some real entertainment. Different entertainment."

Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope

In the preparation to this match, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.

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

New faces performed with vital performances. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to ensure long-term success, but a starting point to build on.

Ultimately, this MCG win is added to other notable performances in dead rubbers.

As the fans departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad gathered on the turf to commence their own enjoyment.

Savour the moment, lads. This victory was hard-fought.