'Did It Not Captivate?' Why a Shortened Test Remained Every Bit a Proper Test.

Displayed inside a glass case on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a electric pink suit donned by Robbie Williams. The show in front of a hundred thousand spectators was considered a triumph.

It's possible you like Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a balanced view, admitting that some songs are belting while others are awful.

The key argument is that amusement can take many forms. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to craft music or even the longest format.

The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format

The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by conditions.

The climate, the session, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the playing surface.

If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the blank slate on which the athletes craft their legacy.

A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test

The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport broken apart and reconstructed in abstract form.

Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the surface which resulted in a win and the another short match of the contest.

Leaving excessive grass on the wicket, leading to numerous dismissals being taken in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.

A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket

But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.

The format is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and ongoing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.

The exciting finishes are even more exciting owing to the time devoted during quieter periods.

Problem Solving: The Core Skill

Certain variables are embraced more freely than others.

The debate in during the match was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the top batters were hindered from showcasing their talents.

The format is about problem solving – reading the situation and adjusting accordingly. The best individual scores were made by recognized batters. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.

Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View

Go and inform the supporters who have experienced 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.

In one section of the MCG, thousands celebrated and sang their songs, producing a party atmosphere in a heartland of Australian cricket.

There was belief as the attack excelled, momentum when the top order responded, and unconditional love when the victory was secured.

Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches

The MCG has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Previously, a Test there featured a pitch with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.

That contest was a marathon, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that previous match are polar opposites of the scale – both are not perfect, yet significance can be attached to both.

At this stage into the current series, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the memory.

"It's not the end of Test cricket at all," said a former player. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been given some real entertainment. A unique show."

Small Victories: Building for the Future

In the build-up to this match, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.

The players responded for him, bringing back the joy to his face.

Emerging talents performed with key contributions. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to secure long-term success, but a starting point to build on.

In the end, this triumph is added to other notable performances in similar circumstances.

As the supporters left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players gathered on the turf to begin their own festivities.

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