'Did It Not Captivate?' The Reason a 48-Hour Match Was No Less a Proper Cricket Test.

Within a display cabinet on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a neon pink ensemble worn by Robbie Williams. His performance in front of a hundred thousand attendees was considered a major hit.

It's possible you appreciate the performer. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some hits are belting while others are poor.

The central idea is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no one way to create music or even the longest format.

The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game

The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon external factors.

The elements, the session, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the playing surface.

If Test cricket is art, the wicket is the canvas on which the players paint their masterpiece.

A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match

The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the established format broken apart and reassembled in an unusual manner.

This is not a endorsement of the wicket which resulted in a win and the second two-day Test of the series.

Leaving 10mm of grass on the wicket, leading to a cascade of wickets being taken in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between offense and defense.

A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket

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

The long game is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and ongoing. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the ball moves excessively for the fast men. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.

The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling because of the investment committed elsewhere.

Adjustment: The Real Challenge

Specific conditions are accepted more readily than others.

The contention in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were unable from playing their natural game.

The format is about finding solutions – reading the situation and responding appropriately. The two highest individual scores were made by world-class players. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.

Pure Elation: The Supporters' View

Attempt to convince the supporters who have suffered years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.

In one section of the MCG, a sea of people made noise and sang their songs, producing a party atmosphere in a stronghold of Australian cricket.

There was hope as the fielding side excelled, momentum when players scored quickly, and unconditional love when the victory was secured.

Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches

The Melbourne has a history with pitch problems. Previously, a Test there featured a strip with all the life of a a damp squib.

That fixture was a marathon, with limited drama and slow play. The latest encounter and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the scale – one is not more ideal, yet historical weight can be found in each.

At this stage into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the memory.

"It's not the demise of the long game at all," observed a former player. "The people who have been privileged to see these short time have been treated to some genuine drama. Different entertainment."

Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope

In the preparation to this Test, the leader spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.

The team responded for him, reinstating the joy to his persona.

Emerging talents stepped up with key contributions. These are small positives, hardly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a foundation to develop from.

In the end, this triumph is added to other notable performances in dead rubbers.

As the crowd left into a stunning sunset, the team assembled on the field to commence their own celebrations.

Celebrate the win, lads. You've earned this one.