'Did It Not Captivate?' The Reason a Two-Day Match Was No Less a Authentic Cricket Test.

In a display cabinet on the third floor of the MCG is housed a electric pink suit donned by Robbie Williams. His performance in front of a hundred thousand attendees was hailed as a success.

You might not appreciate the performer. You might think he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Or you could adopt a middle ground, acknowledging that some hits are belting while others are poor.

The key argument is that amusement can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no one way to produce art or even Test cricket.

The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format

The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on the environment.

The weather, the time of day, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the wicket.

If the long game is art, the strip is the foundation on which the players create their art.

A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match

The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport taken to pieces and stuck back together in an unusual manner.

It must be stated this is not a justification of the wicket which yielded a win and the another short match of the series.

Leaving 10mm of grass on the surface, leading to a cascade of wickets falling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.

A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket

But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is mistaken.

Test cricket is a varied portfolio, a long history and ongoing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the ball does all sorts for the seamers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.

The close matches are all the more thrilling due to the patience made elsewhere.

Adjustment: The Core Skill

Certain variables are tolerated more freely than others.

The argument in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were unable from demonstrating their skill.

This level of cricket is about problem solving – assessing the wicket and adapting effectively. The two highest individual scores were made by recognized players. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.

Pure Elation: The Supporters' View

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

In one section of the MCG, countless fans celebrated and created an atmosphere, fostering a party atmosphere in a stronghold of national pride.

There was hope as the attack surged, impetus when batters fought back, and unconditional love when the win was confirmed.

Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches

The MCG has form with pitch problems. Previously, a Test there featured a strip with the excitement of a a non-event.

That contest was a grind, with limited drama and endless boredom. This recent match and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the scale – one is not more the standard, yet historical weight can be attached to both.

At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the history books.

"It's not the end of the long game at all," said a past champion. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been treated to some real entertainment. Different entertainment."

Small Victories: Looking Ahead

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

The team delivered for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his face.

New faces performed with key contributions. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to secure long-term futures, but something to use as a platform.

In the end, this Melbourne victory is added to other memorable performances in similar circumstances.

As the fans departed into a stunning sunset, the squad gathered on the field to begin their own festivities.

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