'Was That Not a Show?' Why a Shortened Test Deserved Its Status as a Proper Test.

Displayed inside a glass case on the elevated floor of the MCG is housed a neon pink outfit worn by Robbie Williams. His performance in front of 100,024 attendees was hailed as a triumph.

It's possible you appreciate Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a balanced view, admitting that some songs are excellent while others are terrible.

The central idea is that entertainment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is not a single method to produce art or even the longest format.

The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game

The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by the environment.

The elements, the session, the red ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the pitch.

If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the canvas on which the athletes create their art.

An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle

The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the great game broken apart and reconstructed in abstract form.

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

Allowing excessive grass on the surface, causing numerous dismissals tumbling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between bat and ball.

A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket

But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is incorrect.

The format is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and counting. At times, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.

The exciting finishes are particularly captivating due to the investment devoted in other matches.

Problem Solving: The Core Skill

Certain variables are tolerated more freely than others.

The debate in Melbourne was that the contest was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were hindered from showcasing their talents.

Test cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the wicket and responding accordingly. The two highest individual scores were made by acknowledged players. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.

Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective

Go and inform the supporters who have suffered years of defeat that this was not entertaining.

Among the crowd of the MCG, thousands celebrated and created an atmosphere, producing a carnival vibe in a heartland of sport.

There was hope as the fielding side surged, impetus when the top order scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the win was secured.

Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches

The venue has previous experience with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a pitch with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.

That fixture was a marathon, with limited drama and slow play. This recent match and that previous match are polar opposites of the spectrum – one is not more the standard, yet historical weight can be attached to both.

Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the memory.

"It's not the death of Test cricket at all," commented a former player. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been experienced some genuine drama. Different entertainment."

Small Victories: Building for the Future

In the lead-in to this Test, the skipper talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.

The squad protected him, reinstating the smile to his countenance.

Emerging talents delivered with key contributions. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to secure long-term futures, but something to use as a platform.

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

As the fans slipped away into a beautiful night, the team assembled on the field to commence their own celebrations.

Celebrate the win, boys. You've earned this one.