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

Within a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the MCG rests a vibrant pink suit worn by Robbie Williams. The performance in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a major hit.

You might not like Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, conceding that some songs are belting while others are terrible.

The key argument is that enjoyment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to produce music or even five-day cricket.

The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format

Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on conditions.

The climate, the hour of play, the ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the pitch.

If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the canvas on which the cricketers craft their legacy.

An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle

The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the established format taken to pieces and reconstructed in an unusual manner.

It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the wicket which resulted in a win and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.

Having a thick layer on the pitch, leading to 36 wickets tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.

A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket

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

Test cricket is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and counting. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.

The close matches are all the more thrilling due to the time committed elsewhere.

Adaptation: The True Test

Specific conditions are accepted more freely than others.

The debate in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the top batters were prevented from demonstrating their skill.

This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the situation and responding accordingly. The top two individual innings were made by acknowledged batters. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.

Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View

Try telling the devotees who have experienced years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.

In one section of the MCG, thousands made noise and created an atmosphere, producing a festive mood in a bastion of national pride.

There was hope as the bowlers excelled, advantage when batters responded, and rapturous celebration when the victory was achieved.

Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches

The venue has form with difficult wickets. In the past, a game there featured a strip with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.

That fixture was a grind, with limited drama and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the scale – both are not ideal, yet value can be ascribed to them.

At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.

"Far from being the end of the long game at all," said a former player. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been treated to some real entertainment. A unique show."

Small Victories: Building for the Future

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

The players responded for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his countenance.

Emerging talents stepped up with key contributions. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to ensure long-term success, but a starting point to build on.

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

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

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