'Are You Not Entertained?' The Reason a Shortened Fixture Deserved Its Status as a Authentic Test Match.

In a glass case on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a neon pink ensemble donned by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of a hundred thousand fans was seen as a major hit.

It's possible you enjoy Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music known to man. You might take a balanced view, conceding that some songs are fantastic while others are awful.

The point being is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no one way to craft literature or even the longest format.

The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game

The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by conditions.

The weather, the time of day, the red ball – the list is endless. Most important is the playing surface.

If Test cricket is art, the pitch is the canvas on which the players craft their legacy.

An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test

The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the great game broken apart and reassembled in a bizarre shape.

This is not a defence of the surface which yielded a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.

Allowing a thick layer on the pitch, resulting in a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.

A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket

But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is mistaken.

Test cricket is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and still growing. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the ball moves excessively for the seamers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.

The thrillers are even more exciting because of the time made during quieter periods.

Adaptation: The Core Skill

Certain variables are tolerated more readily than others.

The contention in during the match was that the contest was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the top batters were hindered from showcasing their talents.

Test cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the conditions and adjusting appropriately. The best individual innings were made by recognized stars. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.

Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective

Try telling the devotees who have suffered a long drought that this wasn't compelling.

In a corner of the ground, countless fans celebrated and chanted, generating a party atmosphere in a stronghold of national pride.

There was belief as the attack surged, advantage when the top order responded, and rapturous celebration when the victory was secured.

Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches

The Melbourne has form with difficult wickets. In the past, a match there featured a wicket with all the life of a a non-event.

That fixture was a marathon, with few wickets and endless boredom. This recent match and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the range – both are not the standard, yet historical weight can be found in each.

At this stage into the current series, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.

"Far from being the death of the format at all," said a veteran. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been treated to some genuine drama. An unusual spectacle."

Small Victories: Building for the Future

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

The players protected him, bringing back the joy to his persona.

Different players stepped up with key contributions. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to ensure long-term stability, but a starting point to develop from.

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

As the supporters departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players gathered on the outfield to start their own celebrations.

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