'Was That Not a Show?' Why a Two-Day Fixture Was No Less a Authentic Test.

In a display cabinet on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a vibrant pink outfit worn by the entertainer. His show in front of 100,024 fans was considered a success.

You might not appreciate his music. You might think he is the greatest gift to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, admitting that some tracks are fantastic while others are poor.

The point being is that entertainment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to craft literature or even Test cricket.

The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket

The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on external factors.

The elements, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the playing surface.

If the long game is a form of art, the strip is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.

An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match

The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the established format broken apart and stuck back together in abstract form.

Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the surface which yielded a victory and the another short match of the series.

Having a thick layer on the surface, leading to numerous dismissals falling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.

A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket

But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.

Test cricket is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and ongoing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.

The thrillers are all the more thrilling owing to the investment committed in other matches.

Adjustment: The Real Challenge

Some factors are embraced more readily than others.

The argument in at the MCG was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the best players were prevented from showcasing their talents.

The format is about problem solving – interpreting the wicket and responding accordingly. The two highest individual scores were made by world-class batters. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.

Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited

Try telling the fans who have experienced a long drought that this was not entertaining.

In a corner of the stadium, countless fans celebrated and sang their songs, fostering a carnival vibe in a stronghold of sport.

There was belief as the attack excelled, impetus when batters fought back, and unconditional love when the win was achieved.

Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches

The venue has a history with controversial surfaces. Previously, a match there featured a pitch with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.

That contest was a grind, with few wickets and slow play. The two-day game and that slow Test are extreme ends of the range – both are not perfect, yet significance can be ascribed to each.

Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the collective consciousness.

"Far from being the death of the format at all," said a former player. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these short time have been treated to some real entertainment. Different entertainment."

Signs of Progress: Building for the Future

In the preparation to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.

The team responded for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his persona.

New faces performed with vital performances. These are baby steps, hardly enough to secure long-term stability, but something to develop from.

Ultimately, this MCG win joins other memorable performances in similar circumstances.

As the crowd departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad assembled on the turf to start their own enjoyment.

Celebrate the win, men. It's well deserved.