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

Within a display cabinet on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a electric pink suit donned by the pop star. The show in front of 100,024 spectators was considered a success.

It's possible you enjoy the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some tracks are excellent while others are terrible.

The key argument is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to create art or even five-day cricket.

The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket

Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on the environment.

The weather, the session, the ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the pitch.

If the format is a form of art, the pitch is the canvas on which the athletes craft their legacy.

A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test

The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the great game broken apart and stuck back together in an unusual manner.

Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the wicket which produced a win and the second two-day Test of the contest.

Leaving a thick layer on the pitch, leading to numerous dismissals falling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between offense and defense.

A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket

But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.

The long game is a diverse canvas, a long history and ongoing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Other times, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.

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

Problem Solving: The True Test

Specific conditions are embraced more freely than others.

The argument in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were hindered from showcasing their talents.

This level of cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the conditions and responding appropriately. The best individual scores were made by recognized batters. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.

Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited

Try telling the fans who have suffered 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.

Among the crowd of the stadium, a sea of people celebrated and created an atmosphere, producing a party atmosphere in a bastion of Australian cricket.

There was belief as the fielding side dominated, advantage when the top order scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the win was confirmed.

Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches

The MCG has previous experience with difficult wickets. In the past, a Test there featured a pitch with all the life of a a damp squib.

That match was a grind, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – both are not ideal, yet historical weight can be ascribed to them.

Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the memory.

"It's not the death of Test cricket at all," said a former player. "The people who have been privileged to see these two days have been treated to some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."

Small Victories: Building for the Future

In the build-up to this Test, the captain talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.

The team responded for him, reinstating the joy to his persona.

Different players performed with crucial roles. These are small positives, not nearly enough to ensure long-term futures, but a starting point to develop from.

At the very least, this MCG win is added to other historic performances in similar circumstances.

As the fans left into a beautiful night, the squad assembled on the field to begin their own celebrations.

Enjoy the drink, boys. This victory was hard-fought.