'Did It Not Captivate?' Why a 48-Hour Test Deserved Its Status as a Authentic Test Match.

Within a showcase on the third floor of the MCG rests a neon pink outfit worn by the entertainer. His concert in front of 100,024 attendees was seen as a success.

It's possible you appreciate his music. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music in history. You might take a balanced view, acknowledging that some hits are belting while others are terrible.

The key argument is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to create music or even the longest format.

The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format

Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon the environment.

The weather, the time of day, the red ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the pitch.

If the long game is art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the cricketers create their art.

A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test

The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the great game taken to pieces and stuck back together in abstract form.

This is not a endorsement of the pitch which produced a triumph and the another short match of the series.

Allowing excessive grass on the surface, leading to a cascade of wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.

A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket

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

The long game is a rich tapestry, a long history and ongoing. At times, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. Other times, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.

The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling due to the patience committed in other matches.

Adjustment: The True Test

Specific conditions are tolerated more freely than others.

The argument in during the match was that the contest was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the best players were hindered from playing their natural game.

The format is about problem solving – interpreting the wicket and adjusting appropriately. The best individual contributions were made by world-class batters. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.

Pure Elation: The Supporters' View

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

In one section of the MCG, a sea of people celebrated and sang their songs, fostering a festive mood in a bastion of sport.

There was hope as the fielding side dominated, advantage when the top order scored quickly, and unconditional love when the result was secured.

Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches

The Melbourne has form with controversial surfaces. In the past, a match there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a damp squib.

That fixture was a slog, with limited drama and interminable tedium. This recent match and that previous match are extreme ends of the scale – one is not more the standard, yet historical weight can be attached to each.

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

"It's not the death of Test cricket at all," commented a former player. "Spectators 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 match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.

The squad delivered for him, restoring the smile to his face.

New faces stepped up with vital performances. These are small positives, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a starting point to build on.

In the end, this triumph is added to other notable performances in meaningless games.

As the crowd left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players congregated on the field to start their own festivities.

Celebrate the win, boys. This victory was hard-fought.