'Was That Not a Show?' Why a Shortened Match Remained Every Bit a Authentic Test.

In a showcase on the elevated floor of the MCG is housed a neon pink ensemble donned by the entertainer. The concert in front of 100,024 attendees was seen as a major hit.

You might not like Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the finest offering to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some hits are fantastic while others are poor.

The key argument is that amusement can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no one way to craft art or even the longest format.

The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game

The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on the environment.

The weather, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the pitch.

If Test cricket is art, the wicket is the foundation on which the athletes create their art.

A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test

The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the great game dismantled and reconstructed in an unusual manner.

This is not a justification of the surface which yielded a victory and the second two-day Test of the contest.

Having excessive grass on the wicket, causing a cascade of wickets falling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.

A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket

But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is mistaken.

The format is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and ongoing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. Sometimes, it turns square on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.

The thrillers are even more exciting owing to the investment devoted during quieter periods.

Adjustment: The True Test

Certain variables are accepted more easily than others.

The debate in Melbourne was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were unable from playing their natural game.

The format is about problem solving – reading the conditions and responding effectively. The two highest individual innings were made by world-class players. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.

Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective

Try telling the supporters who have experienced years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.

Among the crowd of the ground, countless fans made noise and sang their songs, producing a party atmosphere in a heartland of national pride.

There was belief as the fielding side dominated, momentum when batters fought back, and unconditional love when the victory was achieved.

Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches

The MCG has previous experience with difficult wickets. Previously, a game there featured a strip with all the life of a a damp squib.

That fixture was a slog, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that slow Test are polar opposites of the scale – one is not more perfect, yet significance can be ascribed to each.

Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the memory.

"Far from being the death of the format at all," commented a past champion. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these short time have been given some real entertainment. A unique show."

Signs of Progress: Building for the Future

In the build-up to this match, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.

The team protected him, restoring the joy to his face.

New faces delivered with vital performances. These are small positives, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a starting point to build on.

At the very least, this triumph joins other memorable performances in meaningless games.

As the crowd left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad gathered on the outfield to begin their own enjoyment.

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