'Did It Not Captivate?' Why a Shortened Test Was No Less a Proper Cricket Test.

Within a glass case on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a vibrant pink ensemble worn by Robbie Williams. His performance in front of a massive crowd of spectators was seen as a major hit.

Perhaps you don't enjoy the performer. You might think he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, acknowledging that some hits are excellent while others are awful.

The key argument is that entertainment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to craft music or even Test cricket.

The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket

The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon external factors.

The elements, the session, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the wicket.

If the format is a form of art, the strip is the blank slate on which the cricketers create their art.

A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match

The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the established format broken apart and reassembled in a bizarre shape.

It must be stated this is not a justification of the pitch which resulted in a triumph and the another short match of the series.

Allowing 10mm of grass on the pitch, resulting in a cascade of wickets being taken in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between offense and defense.

A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket

But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is mistaken.

The format is a diverse canvas, a long history and still growing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball does all sorts for the fast men. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.

The thrillers are all the more thrilling due to the patience devoted in other matches.

Adaptation: The Core Skill

Certain variables are accepted more readily than others.

The debate in at the MCG was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the best players were prevented from showcasing their talents.

The format is about problem solving – reading the wicket and adjusting accordingly. The top two individual scores were made by recognized players. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.

Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective

Go and inform the supporters who have suffered 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.

In a corner of the ground, thousands made noise and created an atmosphere, generating a carnival vibe in a bastion of sport.

There was optimism as the fielding side excelled, advantage when players scored quickly, and pure joy when the win was secured.

Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches

The MCG has previous experience with difficult wickets. Previously, a game there featured a pitch with the character of a a damp squib.

That fixture was a marathon, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that previous match are extreme ends of the spectrum – one is not more perfect, yet value can be attached to them.

Four Tests into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the memory.

"Far from being the end of Test cricket at all," observed a former player. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these short time have been given some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."

Baby Steps: Building for the Future

In the build-up to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.

The squad protected him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his countenance.

New faces performed with crucial roles. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to ensure long-term futures, but a starting point to use as a platform.

At the very least, this MCG win is added to other historic performances in similar circumstances.

As the supporters slipped away into a beautiful night, the squad congregated on the field to commence their own celebrations.

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