'Was That Not a Show?' Why a Shortened Fixture Deserved Its Status as a Authentic Test Match.

Displayed inside a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a neon pink ensemble donned by the pop star. The performance in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a success.

It's possible you appreciate his music. You might think he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. You might take a balanced view, acknowledging that some tracks are belting while others are terrible.

The key argument is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no one way to produce music or even Test cricket.

The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format

The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by conditions.

The weather, the time of day, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Above all is the playing surface.

If Test cricket is a form of art, the wicket is the canvas on which the athletes create their art.

A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test

The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the great game dismantled and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.

Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the pitch which resulted in a win and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.

Leaving 10mm of grass on the wicket, leading to a cascade of wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.

A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket

But any notion this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is mistaken.

The format is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and counting. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.

The thrillers are particularly captivating because of the time devoted elsewhere.

Problem Solving: The True Test

Specific conditions are accepted more readily than others.

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

The format is about finding solutions – interpreting the wicket and responding effectively. The two highest individual innings were made by recognized stars. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.

Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View

Attempt to convince the supporters who have endured a long drought that this was not entertaining.

In one section of the MCG, a sea of people waved their flags and sang their songs, generating a carnival vibe in a bastion of national pride.

There was hope as the bowlers dominated, momentum when the top order scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the win was achieved.

Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches

The MCG has a history with controversial surfaces. In the past, a Test there featured a strip with the excitement of a a non-event.

That contest was a grind, with few wickets and slow play. This recent match and that previous match are polar opposites of the range – neither ideal, yet significance can be ascribed to them.

Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the memory.

"This isn't the death of Test cricket at all," said a former player. "The people who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been experienced some genuine drama. A unique show."

Baby Steps: Building for the Future

In the preparation to this match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.

The team delivered for him, reinstating the joy to his face.

Emerging talents performed with vital performances. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to ensure long-term stability, but something to use as a platform.

Ultimately, this triumph is added to other memorable performances in similar circumstances.

As the supporters departed into a stunning sunset, the players assembled on the outfield to start their own celebrations.

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