'Was That Not a Show?' Why a Two-Day Test Deserved Its Status as a Genuine Cricket Test.

Displayed inside a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a vibrant pink suit donned by the entertainer. The concert in front of 100,024 fans was seen as a major hit.

Perhaps you don't enjoy Robbie Williams. You might think he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, admitting that some tracks are excellent while others are terrible.

The point being is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to craft music or even five-day cricket.

The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format

The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon external factors.

The climate, the time of day, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the playing surface.

If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the blank slate on which the athletes craft their legacy.

A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test

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

Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the surface which resulted in a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.

Having 10mm of grass on the pitch, leading to numerous dismissals tumbling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.

A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket

But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.

The long game is a diverse canvas, a long history and counting. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the fast men. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.

The thrillers are all the more thrilling owing to the time devoted in other matches.

Adaptation: The Real Challenge

Some factors are embraced more freely than others.

The argument in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the best players were hindered from playing their natural game.

This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the situation and adjusting appropriately. The best individual contributions were made by recognized batters. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.

Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective

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

In one section of the MCG, thousands waved their flags and chanted, producing a party atmosphere in a bastion of sport.

There was hope as the attack surged, advantage when batters scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the win was confirmed.

Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches

The Melbourne has a history with controversial surfaces. Previously, a match there featured a strip with the excitement of a a non-event.

That contest was a grind, with limited drama and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the range – neither perfect, yet significance can be ascribed to them.

Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the memory.

"It's not the death of the long game at all," said a past champion. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been given some genuine drama. Different entertainment."

Small Victories: Looking Ahead

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

The players delivered for him, bringing back the smile to his persona.

Different players delivered with crucial roles. These are small positives, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term success, but a foundation to build on.

Ultimately, this Melbourne victory is added to other notable performances in similar circumstances.

As the crowd left into a beautiful night, the team gathered on the turf to start their own enjoyment.

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