'Was That Not a Show?' The Reason a Shortened Fixture Remained Every Bit a Authentic Test.

Displayed inside a showcase on the third floor of the MCG is housed a vibrant pink suit worn by the pop star. The performance in front of a massive crowd of attendees was considered a success.

You might not appreciate the performer. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, admitting that some tracks are excellent while others are poor.

The central idea is that entertainment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to craft literature or even Test cricket.

The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game

The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on the environment.

The elements, the time of day, the ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the pitch.

If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the canvas on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.

A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test

The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport broken apart and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.

It must be stated this is not a defence of the pitch which yielded a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.

Allowing a thick layer on the wicket, leading to a cascade of wickets falling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.

A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket

But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is mistaken.

The format is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and ongoing. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball moves excessively for the fast men. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.

The exciting finishes are particularly captivating due to the patience committed during quieter periods.

Problem Solving: The True Test

Certain variables are embraced more freely than others.

The debate in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were hindered from playing their natural game.

Test cricket is about problem solving – assessing the conditions and adjusting effectively. The best individual innings were made by acknowledged players. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.

Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited

Try telling the supporters who have experienced years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.

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

There was belief as the attack surged, momentum when players responded, and unconditional love when the victory was secured.

Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches

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

That match was a marathon, with minimal action and endless boredom. This recent match and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the range – one is not more perfect, yet significance can be found in each.

At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the memory.

"Far from being the demise of the long game at all," said a veteran. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been treated to some genuine drama. Different entertainment."

Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope

In the build-up to this match, the leader spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.

The squad delivered for him, reinstating the smile to his persona.

Different players performed with crucial roles. These are small positives, certainly not enough to ensure long-term success, but something to build on.

Ultimately, this MCG win is added to other memorable performances in dead rubbers.

As the crowd left into a stunning sunset, the squad gathered on the outfield to start their own celebrations.

Enjoy the drink, lads. It's well deserved.