'Did It Not Captivate?' Why a Shortened Match Was No Less a Proper Test.

In a display cabinet on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a electric pink suit performed in by Robbie Williams. The show in front of a hundred thousand spectators was seen as a triumph.

Perhaps you don't like the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Or you could adopt a balanced view, conceding that some hits are belting while others are awful.

The central idea is that amusement can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to produce art or even five-day cricket.

The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket

Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on conditions.

The climate, the hour of play, the red ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the pitch.

If the long game is a form of art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the athletes craft their legacy.

A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match

The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the great game broken apart and reassembled in an unusual manner.

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

Having excessive grass on the surface, leading to numerous dismissals falling in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.

A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket

But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.

The long game is a varied portfolio, a long history and counting. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.

The close matches are even more exciting because of the time committed in other matches.

Adaptation: The Core Skill

Some factors are accepted more readily than others.

The argument in during the match was that the contest was tipped too far towards the attack. That the best players were unable from playing their natural game.

This level of cricket is about problem solving – assessing the situation and adapting appropriately. The two highest individual innings were made by recognized players. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.

Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited

Try telling the supporters who have suffered a long drought that this lacked spectacle.

In a corner of the stadium, a sea of people made noise and sang their songs, fostering a festive mood in a bastion of sport.

There was hope as the attack excelled, impetus when players scored quickly, and unconditional love when the victory was confirmed.

Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches

The Melbourne has form with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a game there featured a strip with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.

That match was a marathon, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – both are not the standard, yet historical weight can be found in both.

Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.

"This isn't the death of the format at all," observed a former player. "The people who have been privileged to see these short time have been treated to some genuine drama. A unique show."

Signs of Progress: Building for the Future

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

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

New faces performed with vital performances. These are baby steps, hardly enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a foundation to develop from.

Ultimately, this Melbourne victory joins other historic performances in dead rubbers.

As the crowd departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team assembled on the outfield to begin their own festivities.

Enjoy the drink, boys. This victory was hard-fought.