'Did It Not Captivate?' The Reason a Two-Day Match Deserved Its Status as a Proper Test Match.

Within a glass case on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a electric pink ensemble performed in by Robbie Williams. His performance in front of a hundred thousand fans was considered a triumph.

It's possible you appreciate the performer. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a balanced view, acknowledging that some songs are fantastic while others are awful.

The point being is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is not a single method to produce art or even five-day cricket.

The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format

The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon the environment.

The elements, the time of day, the ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the playing surface.

If the long game is a form of art, the pitch is the canvas on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.

An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match

The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reassembled in a bizarre shape.

Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the surface which produced a win and the another short match of the contest.

Having 10mm of grass on the surface, leading to numerous dismissals falling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.

A Diverse Legacy: 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 long game is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and still growing. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Other times, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.

The close matches are particularly captivating because of the patience made elsewhere.

Adjustment: The Real Challenge

Specific conditions are embraced more easily than others.

The contention in at the MCG was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the top batters were unable from demonstrating their skill.

This level of cricket is about problem solving – reading the wicket and adjusting effectively. The two highest individual innings were made by world-class stars. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.

Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited

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

In a corner of the stadium, a sea of people made noise and created an atmosphere, generating a festive mood in a heartland of sport.

There was belief as the fielding side surged, momentum when players scored quickly, and pure joy when the win was confirmed.

Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches

The MCG has previous experience with controversial surfaces. In the past, a Test there featured a strip with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.

That fixture was a marathon, with few wickets and endless boredom. The two-day game and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the range – one is not more perfect, yet value can be found in each.

At this stage into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the history books.

"This isn't the death of the long game at all," commented a veteran. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these short time have been given some fantastic sport. A unique show."

Baby Steps: Looking Ahead

In the lead-in to this match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.

The squad delivered for him, reinstating the smile to his persona.

New faces stepped up with key contributions. These are baby steps, hardly enough to ensure long-term stability, but something to develop from.

Ultimately, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other historic performances in similar circumstances.

As the crowd departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad assembled on the field to begin their own celebrations.

Savour the moment, lads. This victory was hard-fought.