'Are You Not Entertained?' The Reason a Two-Day Match Remained Every Bit a Genuine Test.

In a glass case on the elevated floor of the MCG rests a electric pink suit donned by the pop star. His show in front of a massive crowd of attendees was considered a major hit.

It's possible you like the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a middle ground, conceding that some hits are excellent while others are poor.

The point being is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no one way to produce literature or even Test cricket.

The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket

Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon conditions.

The weather, the time of day, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the wicket.

If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the canvas on which the athletes create their art.

An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match

The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the established format dismantled and reassembled in a bizarre shape.

This is not a defence of the wicket which resulted in a triumph and the another short match of the series.

Having excessive grass on the surface, leading to numerous dismissals tumbling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between offense and defense.

A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket

But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is mistaken.

Test cricket is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and still growing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the ball moves excessively for the seamers. Other times, it turns square on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.

The thrillers are all the more thrilling because of the investment made during quieter periods.

Problem Solving: The True Test

Specific conditions are tolerated more readily than others.

The argument in at the MCG was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the best players were prevented from playing their natural game.

The format is about finding solutions – reading the situation and responding effectively. The best individual contributions were made by recognized stars. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.

Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited

Attempt to convince the devotees who have suffered a long drought that this lacked spectacle.

In a corner of the ground, a sea of people made noise and chanted, producing a carnival vibe in a bastion of Australian cricket.

There was hope as the attack excelled, impetus when batters scored quickly, and pure joy when the result was secured.

Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches

The MCG has form with pitch problems. In the past, a game there featured a pitch with all the life of a a damp squib.

That match was a grind, with minimal action and interminable tedium. This recent match and that slow Test are extreme ends of the range – one is not more perfect, yet historical weight can be attached to both.

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

"This isn't the end of the format at all," said a former player. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been treated to some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."

Baby Steps: Looking Ahead

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

The players delivered for him, bringing back the joy to his face.

Different players stepped up with key contributions. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a foundation to build on.

In the end, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other memorable performances in meaningless games.

As the supporters slipped away into a stunning sunset, the players gathered on the outfield to commence their own enjoyment.

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