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

Displayed inside a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a vibrant pink outfit donned by Robbie Williams. His performance in front of a massive crowd of attendees was seen as a triumph.

You might not enjoy Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, admitting that some hits are excellent while others are poor.

The key argument is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is not a single method to produce literature or even the longest format.

The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket

Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon the environment.

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

If the long game is art, the pitch is the foundation on which the players create their art.

An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match

The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the established format dismantled and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.

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

Having 10mm of grass on the pitch, causing numerous dismissals being taken in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.

A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket

But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.

The format is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and ongoing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.

The close matches are all the more thrilling because of the patience devoted elsewhere.

Adaptation: The Core Skill

Some factors are accepted more readily than others.

The argument in during the match was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the best players were hindered from demonstrating their skill.

The format is about problem solving – assessing the situation and adapting effectively. The two highest individual contributions were made by recognized players. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.

Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited

Go and inform the supporters who have endured 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.

In one section of the stadium, a sea of people celebrated and sang their songs, generating a festive mood in a stronghold of sport.

There was optimism as the fielding side surged, momentum when batters fought back, and pure joy when the victory was confirmed.

Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches

The Melbourne has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a game there featured a pitch with all the life of a a damp squib.

That match was a slog, with few wickets and interminable tedium. This recent match and that previous match are extreme ends of the spectrum – neither the standard, yet significance can be ascribed to both.

Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.

"It's not the death of the long game at all," said a former player. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been experienced some real entertainment. A unique show."

Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope

In the preparation to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.

The team delivered for him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his countenance.

Emerging talents delivered with key contributions. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to ensure long-term stability, but a foundation to develop from.

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

As the fans left into a stunning sunset, the squad gathered on the turf to commence their own enjoyment.

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