'Did It Not Captivate?' Why a Shortened Match Deserved Its Status as a Genuine Cricket Test.

Within a glass case on the third floor of the MCG sits a vibrant pink suit worn by the entertainer. The show in front of a hundred thousand attendees was hailed as a triumph.

It's possible you appreciate the performer. You might think he is the finest offering to music in history. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, conceding that some hits are fantastic while others are poor.

The point being is that enjoyment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is not a single method to craft music or even Test cricket.

The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket

The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon conditions.

The weather, the hour of play, the ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the pitch.

If Test cricket is a form of art, the wicket is the foundation on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.

A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match

The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the great game dismantled and reassembled in a bizarre shape.

This is not a endorsement of the surface which resulted in a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.

Allowing 10mm of grass on the pitch, causing numerous dismissals falling in less than two days, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.

A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket

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

The format is a varied portfolio, a long history and still growing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Other times, it turns square on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.

The exciting finishes are particularly captivating because of the patience devoted during quieter periods.

Problem Solving: The True Test

Certain variables are tolerated more easily than others.

The contention in Melbourne was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the best players were prevented from playing their natural game.

The format is about problem solving – reading the situation and responding effectively. The top two individual innings were made by recognized stars. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.

Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited

Attempt to convince the supporters who have endured 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.

In one section of the ground, a sea of people waved their flags and created an atmosphere, generating a festive mood in a bastion of Australian cricket.

There was belief as the bowlers excelled, advantage when the top order scored quickly, and unconditional love when the result was confirmed.

Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches

The venue has previous experience with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a game there featured a strip with all the life of a a non-event.

That fixture was a marathon, with minimal action and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that previous match are polar opposites of the scale – neither ideal, yet significance can be attached to both.

At this stage into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the history books.

"It's not the demise of the format at all," observed a past champion. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been treated to some genuine drama. A unique show."

Baby Steps: Looking Ahead

In the lead-in to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.

The squad protected him, reinstating the joy to his face.

Different players performed with key contributions. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term success, but something to develop from.

Ultimately, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other notable performances in similar circumstances.

As the crowd left into a stunning sunset, the squad assembled on the field to begin their own enjoyment.

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