'Did It Not Captivate?' Why a Shortened Test Deserved Its Status as a Genuine Test Match.

Displayed inside a showcase on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a neon pink suit worn by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of 100,024 spectators was seen as a success.

You might not appreciate the performer. You might think he is the ultimate present to music in history. You might take a middle ground, conceding that some songs are excellent while others are poor.

The point being is that amusement can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to craft literature or even Test cricket.

The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format

The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on conditions.

The climate, the session, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the wicket.

If the long game is a form of art, the strip is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.

An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test

The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the established format broken apart and reconstructed in an unusual manner.

Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the pitch which resulted in a victory and the another short match of the contest.

Allowing 10mm of grass on the wicket, causing 36 wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.

A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket

But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is incorrect.

The long game is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and ongoing. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. In contrast, 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 even more exciting owing to the patience made elsewhere.

Adaptation: The Core Skill

Specific conditions are tolerated more easily than others.

The contention in at the MCG was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the best players were hindered from demonstrating their skill.

This level of cricket is about problem solving – assessing the situation and adapting accordingly. The two highest individual contributions were made by world-class batters. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.

Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective

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

In one section of the MCG, a sea of people made noise and created an atmosphere, generating a carnival vibe in a bastion of sport.

There was optimism as the attack dominated, impetus when players responded, and rapturous celebration when the victory was secured.

Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches

The Melbourne has form with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a game there featured a strip with the character of a a damp squib.

That match was a slog, with minimal action and slow play. The two-day game and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – both are not ideal, yet significance can be attached to them.

Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the history books.

"Far from being the demise of Test cricket at all," commented a former player. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been experienced some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."

Baby Steps: Looking Ahead

In the lead-in to this Test, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.

The team responded for him, reinstating the joy to his persona.

Emerging talents delivered with vital performances. These are small positives, not nearly enough to ensure long-term success, but something to develop from.

In the end, this triumph takes its place among other notable performances in similar circumstances.

As the fans departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team congregated on the field to start their own enjoyment.

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