'Was That Not a Show?' The Reason a 48-Hour Fixture Was No Less a Proper Test.

Within a glass case on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a vibrant pink suit donned by Robbie Williams. His show in front of a massive crowd of spectators was hailed as a major hit.

It's possible you enjoy his music. Maybe you feel he is the finest offering to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, acknowledging that some tracks are excellent while others are awful.

The key argument is that amusement can take many forms. You like what you like. There is no one way to produce music or even Test cricket.

The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game

Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by external factors.

The climate, the hour of play, the ball – the list is endless. Above all is the pitch.

If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the blank slate on which the athletes craft their legacy.

An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test

The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport dismantled and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.

It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the pitch which resulted in a win and the second two-day Test of the series.

Allowing excessive grass on the surface, resulting in numerous dismissals falling in less than two days, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.

A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket

But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is mistaken.

The long game is a varied portfolio, a long history and still growing. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Other times, it spins sharply on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.

The thrillers are all the more thrilling because of the patience committed in other matches.

Problem Solving: The Real Challenge

Certain variables are accepted more freely than others.

The contention in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the best players were unable from playing their natural game.

This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the situation and adapting effectively. The top two individual contributions were made by recognized batters. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.

Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited

Attempt to convince the supporters who have suffered years of defeat that this was not entertaining.

In a corner of the stadium, countless fans celebrated and sang their songs, generating a party atmosphere in a bastion of national pride.

There was belief as the bowlers surged, advantage when batters responded, and unconditional love when the win was confirmed.

Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches

The venue has form with difficult wickets. Previously, a match there featured a strip with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.

That contest was a marathon, with minimal action and slow play. This recent match and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – both are not perfect, yet value can be ascribed to both.

Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the memory.

"This isn't the death of the format at all," said a veteran. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these short time have been given some genuine drama. Different entertainment."

Baby Steps: Looking Ahead

In the preparation to this match, the captain talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.

The players protected him, restoring the joy to his persona.

New faces stepped up with vital performances. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to secure long-term futures, but a starting point to build on.

Ultimately, this MCG win joins other historic performances in meaningless games.

As the supporters slipped away into a stunning sunset, the squad assembled on the turf to commence their own enjoyment.

Enjoy the drink, boys. You've earned this one.