'Was That Not a Show?' Why a 48-Hour Fixture Remained Every Bit a Authentic Test.

Displayed inside a display cabinet on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a electric pink suit performed in by Robbie Williams. The performance in front of a massive crowd of spectators was hailed as a triumph.

You might not like his music. You might think he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some tracks are belting while others are awful.

The central idea is that enjoyment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is not a single method to craft literature or even the longest format.

The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game

Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by conditions.

The elements, the hour of play, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the playing surface.

If the format is art, the strip is the canvas on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.

A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test

The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the great game taken to pieces and reassembled in an unusual manner.

This is not a defence of the pitch which resulted in a victory and the second two-day Test of the series.

Having 10mm of grass on the pitch, causing 36 wickets falling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.

A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket

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

The long game is a rich tapestry, a long history and counting. At times, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it turns square on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.

The close matches are particularly captivating due to the patience devoted elsewhere.

Adaptation: The Core Skill

Some factors are accepted more readily than others.

The contention in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were unable from showcasing their talents.

The format is about finding solutions – interpreting the situation and adapting appropriately. The two highest individual contributions were made by recognized stars. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.

Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited

Go and inform the fans who have endured years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.

In a corner of the stadium, a sea of people made noise and chanted, producing a party atmosphere in a heartland of sport.

There was optimism as the attack excelled, advantage when players responded, and unconditional love when the win was achieved.

Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches

The venue has a history with difficult wickets. In the past, a game there featured a strip with all the life of a a damp squib.

That contest was a slog, with few wickets and endless boredom. This recent match and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the scale – both are not the standard, yet significance can be found in each.

At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the history books.

"This isn't the death of the long game at all," commented a former player. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been given some real entertainment. Different entertainment."

Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope

In the build-up to this Test, the captain talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.

The players protected him, bringing back the joy to his countenance.

Emerging talents stepped up with vital performances. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to ensure long-term stability, but something to build on.

At the very least, this Melbourne victory joins other memorable performances in dead rubbers.

As the fans left into a stunning sunset, the team gathered on the turf to commence their own enjoyment.

Celebrate the win, boys. This victory was hard-fought.