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

In a showcase on the third floor of the MCG rests a neon pink suit worn by the entertainer. His show in front of a hundred thousand attendees was considered a triumph.

You might not appreciate Robbie Williams. You might think he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a middle ground, conceding that some songs are excellent while others are poor.

The key argument is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to craft music or even the longest format.

The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game

The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on conditions.

The weather, the hour of play, the ball – the list is endless. Most important is the pitch.

If the long game is art, the wicket is the foundation on which the athletes create their art.

A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match

The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reconstructed in an unusual manner.

This is not a endorsement of the wicket which produced a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.

Leaving a thick layer on the wicket, leading to a cascade of wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.

A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket

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

Test cricket is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and still growing. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.

The thrillers are even more exciting owing to the time made in other matches.

Problem Solving: The True Test

Some factors are accepted more readily than others.

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

Test cricket is about problem solving – assessing the conditions and responding accordingly. The top two individual scores were made by recognized players. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.

Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited

Go and inform the devotees who have suffered years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.

In one section of the ground, a sea of people waved their flags and created an atmosphere, fostering a party atmosphere in a bastion of sport.

There was hope as the attack excelled, momentum when batters fought back, and unconditional love when the result was confirmed.

Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches

The MCG has a history with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a pitch with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.

That contest was a grind, with limited drama and slow play. The two-day game and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the range – one is not more the standard, yet value can be ascribed to both.

Deep into the series into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.

"It's not the end of the format at all," said a past champion. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been treated to some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."

Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope

In the build-up to this match, the captain talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.

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

New faces stepped up with crucial roles. These are small positives, hardly enough to ensure long-term stability, but a foundation to build on.

At the very least, this triumph is added to other historic performances in dead rubbers.

As the supporters slipped away into a beautiful night, the squad congregated on the field to begin their own celebrations.

Celebrate the win, boys. You've earned this one.