'Are You Not Entertained?' Why a Shortened Fixture Remained Every Bit a Proper Test Match.

In a glass case on the upper level of the MCG rests a neon pink ensemble worn by Robbie Williams. The show in front of a hundred thousand fans was considered a major hit.

You might not like his music. You might think he is the ultimate present to music in history. Or you could adopt a balanced view, admitting that some tracks are fantastic while others are terrible.

The key argument is that enjoyment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to produce music or even the longest format.

The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game

Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by external factors.

The climate, the session, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the wicket.

If Test cricket is a form of art, the wicket is the canvas on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.

An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test

The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the established format taken to pieces and reassembled in a bizarre shape.

It must be stated this is not a justification of the wicket which yielded a win and the another short match of the series.

Allowing a thick layer on the pitch, resulting in numerous dismissals being taken in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.

A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket

But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is incorrect.

The format is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and counting. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Other times, it spins sharply on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.

The thrillers are particularly captivating due to the patience made elsewhere.

Adaptation: The True Test

Specific conditions are tolerated more readily than others.

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

The format is about problem solving – interpreting the conditions and adjusting appropriately. The top two individual contributions were made by recognized stars. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.

Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View

Try telling the supporters who have endured years of defeat that this was not entertaining.

In one section of the MCG, a sea of people made noise and sang their songs, fostering a festive mood in a heartland of sport.

There was belief as the attack dominated, advantage when the top order responded, and pure joy when the result was achieved.

Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches

The Melbourne has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Previously, a Test there featured a pitch with all the life of a a damp squib.

That contest was a grind, with limited drama and slow play. This recent match and that slow Test are polar opposites of the spectrum – one is not more ideal, yet historical weight can be found in them.

Four Tests into the current series, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.

"Far from being the end of Test cricket at all," observed a former player. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been given some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."

Baby Steps: Looking Ahead

In the preparation to this Test, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.

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

Different players performed with key contributions. These are small positives, hardly enough to secure long-term success, but a foundation to use as a platform.

In the end, this Melbourne victory is added to other historic performances in similar circumstances.

As the crowd left into a stunning sunset, the squad gathered on the outfield to commence their own festivities.

Celebrate the win, lads. This victory was hard-fought.