'Did It Not Captivate?' The Reason a Two-Day Fixture Remained Every Bit a Authentic Cricket Test.

Displayed inside a showcase on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a neon pink ensemble worn by the entertainer. The concert in front of a hundred thousand attendees was considered a major hit.

You might not appreciate his music. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music in history. You might take a middle ground, conceding that some songs are belting while others are terrible.

The central idea is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to craft art or even the longest format.

The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket

The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by the environment.

The weather, the session, the ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the playing surface.

If the long game is art, the strip is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.

A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match

The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the great game broken apart and reassembled in a bizarre shape.

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

Having a thick layer on the pitch, leading to a cascade of wickets being taken in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.

A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket

But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.

The long game is a diverse canvas, a long history and ongoing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Other times, it spins sharply on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.

The exciting finishes are particularly captivating because of the patience committed during quieter periods.

Adjustment: The Core Skill

Specific conditions are tolerated more freely than others.

The argument in at the MCG was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the best players were prevented from showcasing their talents.

The format is about problem solving – reading the conditions and adapting effectively. The best individual contributions were made by world-class batters. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.

Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View

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

Among the crowd of the stadium, a sea of people made noise and sang their songs, producing a festive mood in a bastion of national pride.

There was belief as the bowlers surged, impetus when the top order fought back, and pure joy when the win was achieved.

Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches

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

That match was a marathon, with limited drama and interminable tedium. This recent match and that previous match are polar opposites of the scale – neither the standard, yet historical weight can be attached to each.

Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the memory.

"This isn't the demise of the long game at all," observed a veteran. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been treated to some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."

Small Victories: Looking Ahead

In the build-up to this match, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.

The team delivered for him, bringing back the joy to his countenance.

Emerging talents stepped up with key contributions. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to secure long-term stability, but something to build on.

Ultimately, this MCG win takes its place among other memorable performances in dead rubbers.

As the crowd left into a beautiful night, the team assembled on the outfield to begin their own festivities.

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