'Did It Not Captivate?' Why a 48-Hour Test Remained Every Bit a Genuine Test.

In a glass case on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a neon pink suit donned by the pop star. The show in front of 100,024 fans was seen as a triumph.

Perhaps you don't enjoy Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music in history. You might take a reasonable stance, admitting that some songs are excellent while others are terrible.

The point being is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no one way to produce literature or even five-day cricket.

The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format

The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on the environment.

The elements, the time of day, the red ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the playing surface.

If Test cricket is art, the pitch is the canvas on which the players craft their legacy.

A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle

The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the great game taken to pieces and reassembled in an unusual manner.

This is not a justification of the surface which resulted in a victory and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.

Leaving 10mm of grass on the surface, causing 36 wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.

A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket

But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is incorrect.

The format is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and ongoing. At times, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball moves excessively for the fast men. In contrast, it grips and turns on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.

The close matches are even more exciting owing to the investment committed elsewhere.

Problem Solving: The Real Challenge

Specific conditions are tolerated more easily than others.

The debate in during the match was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were prevented from playing their natural game.

The format is about problem solving – reading the conditions and adjusting effectively. The two highest individual contributions were made by recognized players. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.

Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective

Go and inform the fans who have suffered years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.

In one section of the ground, thousands made noise and chanted, fostering a carnival vibe in a heartland of national pride.

There was optimism as the bowlers dominated, momentum when the top order responded, and unconditional love when the win was secured.

Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches

The venue has form with pitch problems. Previously, a Test 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 slow Test are extreme ends of the range – one is not more ideal, yet value can be ascribed to them.

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

"Far from being the death of the long game at all," commented a past champion. "The people who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been given some real entertainment. Different entertainment."

Baby Steps: Looking Ahead

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

The players delivered for him, reinstating the joy to his face.

Emerging talents delivered with key contributions. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to secure long-term stability, but a foundation to use as a platform.

At the very least, this MCG win joins other historic performances in dead rubbers.

As the fans slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team assembled on the outfield to commence their own enjoyment.

Enjoy the drink, lads. You've earned this one.