'Are You Not Entertained?' Why a 48-Hour Fixture Remained Every Bit a Genuine Test Match.

In a display cabinet on the third floor of the MCG sits a vibrant pink suit donned by the pop star. His performance in front of 100,024 attendees was hailed as a success.

It's possible you enjoy his music. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, conceding that some hits are belting while others are awful.

The key argument is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no one way to create art or even the longest format.

The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format

The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by conditions.

The climate, the hour of play, the red ball – the list is endless. Most important is the pitch.

If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the foundation on which the players craft their legacy.

An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match

The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the great game taken to pieces and reassembled in abstract form.

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

Leaving a thick layer on the surface, causing a cascade of wickets falling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.

A Varied History: 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 format is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and still growing. At times, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. Other times, it spins sharply on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.

The close matches are all the more thrilling owing to the investment made elsewhere.

Adjustment: The Core Skill

Some factors are accepted more easily than others.

The contention in at the MCG was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the top batters were prevented from demonstrating their skill.

Test cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the conditions and adjusting effectively. The two highest individual contributions were made by recognized stars. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.

Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View

Attempt to convince the supporters who have endured a long drought that this wasn't compelling.

In one section of the ground, countless fans made noise and created an atmosphere, fostering a party atmosphere in a stronghold of Australian cricket.

There was belief as the bowlers excelled, advantage when batters scored quickly, and unconditional love when the victory was achieved.

Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches

The MCG has form with difficult wickets. Previously, a game there featured a strip with the character of a a damp squib.

That contest was a slog, with few wickets and interminable tedium. This recent match and that previous match are extreme ends of the scale – neither ideal, yet significance can be attached to them.

At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the memory.

"Far from being the demise of Test cricket at all," said a past champion. "The people who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been given some genuine drama. Different entertainment."

Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead

In the preparation to this Test, the leader spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.

The players delivered for him, bringing back the smile to his persona.

Different players stepped up with vital performances. These are small positives, not nearly enough to secure long-term futures, but a foundation to develop from.

In the end, this triumph is added to other historic performances in dead rubbers.

As the fans departed into a stunning sunset, the squad congregated on the outfield to commence their own celebrations.

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