'Was That Not a Show?' The Reason a Shortened Fixture Deserved Its Status as a Genuine Test.

Displayed inside a display cabinet on the third floor of the MCG is housed a electric pink suit worn by Robbie Williams. His show in front of 100,024 spectators was hailed as a major hit.

You might not like his music. You might think he is the greatest gift to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, acknowledging that some songs are excellent while others are terrible.

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

The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game

The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by external factors.

The weather, the time of day, the ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the pitch.

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

A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle

The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reassembled in abstract form.

It must be stated this is not a defence of the wicket which resulted in a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.

Leaving excessive grass on the pitch, leading to numerous dismissals falling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.

A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket

But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is incorrect.

Test cricket is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and counting. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Other times, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.

The exciting finishes are even more exciting due to the time committed elsewhere.

Problem Solving: The True Test

Certain variables are tolerated more easily than others.

The contention in at the MCG was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the top batters were prevented from demonstrating their skill.

This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the wicket and adjusting effectively. The top two individual contributions were made by recognized batters. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.

Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective

Go and inform the fans who have experienced a long drought that this wasn't compelling.

Among the crowd of the stadium, countless fans made noise and created an atmosphere, generating a carnival vibe in a heartland of national pride.

There was belief as the attack excelled, momentum when players fought back, and rapturous celebration when the result was confirmed.

Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches

The Melbourne has form with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a match there featured a wicket with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.

That contest was a marathon, with few wickets and interminable tedium. This recent match and that previous match are extreme ends of the range – one is not more ideal, yet value can be attached to both.

Deep into the series into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the collective consciousness.

"It's not the end of Test cricket at all," observed a past champion. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been given some real entertainment. Different entertainment."

Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope

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

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

Different players stepped up with vital performances. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to ensure long-term success, but a foundation to develop from.

In the end, this MCG win is added to other historic performances in similar circumstances.

As the supporters departed into a beautiful night, the squad gathered on the field to begin their own enjoyment.

Celebrate the win, boys. It's well deserved.