'Was That Not a Show?' The Reason a 48-Hour Match Deserved Its Status as a Proper Cricket Test.

Within a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a vibrant pink suit donned by the entertainer. The concert in front of a hundred thousand attendees was considered a triumph.

Perhaps you don't appreciate his music. You might think he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. You might take a middle ground, acknowledging that some hits are excellent while others are poor.

The point being is that entertainment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no one way to produce literature or even the longest format.

The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format

The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon conditions.

The elements, the hour of play, the red ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the pitch.

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

An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match

The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the great game taken to pieces and reassembled in a bizarre shape.

Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the surface which resulted in a triumph and the second two-day Test of the series.

Having excessive grass on the wicket, causing a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.

A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket

But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is mistaken.

The long game is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and ongoing. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. Other times, it grips and turns on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.

The thrillers are even more exciting because of the investment made during quieter periods.

Adjustment: The Core Skill

Specific conditions are accepted more freely than others.

The debate in during the match was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the best players were prevented from demonstrating their skill.

Test cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the situation and responding effectively. The best individual scores were made by recognized batters. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.

Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited

Attempt to convince the supporters who have endured years of defeat that this was not entertaining.

Among the crowd of the stadium, countless fans waved their flags and chanted, fostering a party atmosphere in a heartland of sport.

There was hope as the fielding side excelled, advantage when batters scored quickly, and pure joy when the result was achieved.

Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches

The Melbourne has a history with pitch problems. In the past, a match there featured a strip with all the life of a a damp squib.

That fixture was a slog, with limited drama and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that previous match are extreme ends of the spectrum – one is not more perfect, yet historical weight can be ascribed to each.

At this stage into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.

"It's not the demise of the long game at all," commented a past champion. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been experienced some genuine drama. A unique show."

Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope

In the preparation to this match, the leader talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.

The team protected him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his countenance.

Emerging talents stepped up with key contributions. These are small positives, certainly not enough to ensure long-term stability, but a starting point to develop from.

In the end, this triumph joins other memorable performances in dead rubbers.

As the supporters slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team congregated on the turf to begin their own festivities.

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