'Did It Not Captivate?' Why a 48-Hour Match Was No Less a Genuine Test.

In a display cabinet on the third floor of the MCG sits a electric pink outfit worn by Robbie Williams. His show in front of a massive crowd of fans was considered a major hit.

It's possible you like his music. You might think he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some songs are excellent while others are awful.

The key argument is that enjoyment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to craft art or even five-day cricket.

The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket

The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on external factors.

The elements, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the wicket.

If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the canvas on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.

A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test

The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport broken apart and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.

Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the surface which produced a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.

Having a thick layer on the pitch, leading to numerous dismissals being taken in less than two days, is not an even battle between bat and ball.

A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket

But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.

Test cricket is a diverse canvas, a long history and still growing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the fast men. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.

The close matches are all the more thrilling because of the time devoted in other matches.

Adaptation: The True Test

Specific conditions are accepted more easily than others.

The contention in at the MCG was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the best players were hindered from showcasing their talents.

Test cricket is about problem solving – reading the wicket and adjusting appropriately. The two highest individual innings were made by world-class stars. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.

Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective

Attempt to convince the supporters who have suffered years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.

In a corner of the ground, a sea of people waved their flags and created an atmosphere, producing a festive mood in a stronghold of Australian cricket.

There was optimism as the attack excelled, momentum when the top order responded, and unconditional love when the victory was achieved.

Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches

The MCG has previous experience with controversial surfaces. In the past, a match there featured a strip with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.

That contest was a marathon, with limited drama and endless boredom. This recent match and that slow Test are polar opposites of the spectrum – neither ideal, yet significance can be found in them.

Four Tests into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the history books.

"This isn't the end of the format at all," said a past champion. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these two days have been experienced some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."

Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope

In the preparation to this match, the captain talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.

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

Emerging talents performed with crucial roles. These are small positives, not nearly enough to ensure long-term futures, but a starting point to use as a platform.

Ultimately, this MCG win takes its place among other notable performances in similar circumstances.

As the supporters departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad gathered on the turf to commence their own celebrations.

Savour the moment, lads. It's well deserved.