'Was That Not a Show?' Why a 48-Hour Test Was No Less a Genuine Test.

Within a showcase on the upper level of the MCG sits a neon pink outfit worn by the entertainer. His show in front of 100,024 spectators was considered a success.

Perhaps you don't appreciate Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, admitting that some tracks are belting while others are terrible.

The point being is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no one way to create art or even Test cricket.

The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format

Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by conditions.

The climate, the time of day, the ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the wicket.

If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the blank slate on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.

A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test

The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the great game broken apart and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.

It must be stated this is not a justification of the wicket which yielded a triumph and the second two-day Test of the contest.

Allowing a thick layer on the pitch, leading to 36 wickets 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 notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is mistaken.

Test cricket is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and still growing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. Other times, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.

The thrillers are even more exciting owing to the investment devoted elsewhere.

Problem Solving: The Core Skill

Certain variables are embraced more freely than others.

The contention in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the top batters were prevented from playing their natural game.

This level of cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the situation and responding effectively. The top two individual contributions were made by recognized stars. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.

Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited

Go and inform the fans who have endured 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.

In a corner of the MCG, a sea of people waved their flags and chanted, producing a party atmosphere in a stronghold of national pride.

There was optimism as the fielding side surged, advantage when players scored quickly, and unconditional love when the result was confirmed.

Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches

The MCG has a history with difficult wickets. Previously, a game there featured a pitch with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.

That contest was a grind, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the scale – neither ideal, yet value can be found in them.

Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the memory.

"This isn't the end of Test cricket at all," said a veteran. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been experienced some genuine drama. A unique show."

Baby Steps: Building for the Future

In the lead-in to this Test, the leader talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.

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

New faces performed with key contributions. These are baby steps, hardly enough to guarantee long-term stability, but something to use as a platform.

At the very least, this triumph joins other historic performances in similar circumstances.

As the fans departed into a beautiful night, the squad assembled on the field to commence their own enjoyment.

Savour the moment, boys. You've earned this one.