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

In a glass case on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a neon pink suit worn by Robbie Williams. His show in front of a massive crowd of spectators was seen as a triumph.

You might not like his music. You might think he is the greatest gift 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 be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. 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 contest is so dictated by external factors.

The climate, the time of day, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the playing surface.

If the long game is a form of art, the pitch is the canvas on which the players craft their legacy.

An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match

The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the established format broken apart and reassembled in abstract form.

Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the wicket which produced a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.

Having excessive grass on the surface, leading to numerous dismissals falling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.

A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket

But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.

Test cricket is a varied portfolio, a long history and still growing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the ball moves excessively for the fast men. Other times, it turns square on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.

The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling because of the time made elsewhere.

Adaptation: The Real Challenge

Some factors are embraced more readily than others.

The contention in during the match was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the top batters were prevented from demonstrating their skill.

This level of cricket is about problem solving – assessing the situation and responding appropriately. The top two individual innings were made by acknowledged stars. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.

Pure Elation: The Supporters' View

Attempt to convince the supporters who have experienced years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.

In one section of the stadium, countless fans waved their flags and sang their songs, generating a carnival vibe in a heartland of Australian cricket.

There was belief as the bowlers surged, advantage when players responded, and pure joy when the result was confirmed.

Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches

The MCG has previous experience with difficult wickets. In the past, a game there featured a wicket with the character of a a non-event.

That match was a grind, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the scale – both are not perfect, yet historical weight can be ascribed to both.

Four Tests into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the memory.

"It's not the death of Test cricket at all," commented a veteran. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been given some fantastic sport. A unique show."

Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead

In the lead-in to this match, the leader spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.

The team protected him, bringing back the smile to his face.

Different players stepped up with vital performances. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a starting point to develop from.

At the very least, this MCG win takes its place among other notable performances in similar circumstances.

As the crowd slipped away into a stunning sunset, the players assembled on the outfield to start their own festivities.

Enjoy the drink, lads. It's well deserved.