'Was That Not a Show?' Why a Shortened Test Was No Less a Authentic Cricket Test.

In a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a vibrant pink suit donned by Robbie Williams. His show in front of 100,024 spectators was seen as a major hit.

You might not like Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the finest offering to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, admitting that some hits are fantastic while others are poor.

The point being is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to produce art or even the longest format.

The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format

The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by the environment.

The elements, the session, the red ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the playing surface.

If Test cricket is a form of art, the strip is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.

A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test

The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the great game taken to pieces and stuck back together in abstract form.

It must be stated this is not a defence of the surface which resulted in a victory and the second two-day Test of the series.

Allowing excessive grass on the surface, resulting in a cascade of wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between offense and defense.

A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket

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

Test cricket is a diverse canvas, a long history and counting. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. Other times, it turns square on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.

The close matches are particularly captivating because of the investment committed elsewhere.

Problem Solving: The Real Challenge

Certain variables are accepted more readily than others.

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

The format is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the wicket and adjusting appropriately. The best individual scores were made by acknowledged players. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.

Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective

Attempt to convince the supporters who have endured a long drought that this was not entertaining.

Among the crowd of the ground, a sea of people made noise and created an atmosphere, producing a carnival vibe in a stronghold of sport.

There was hope as the attack excelled, momentum when the top order scored quickly, and unconditional love when the result was secured.

Extreme Ends: The Range of Test Matches

The MCG has previous experience with difficult wickets. In the past, a game there featured a wicket with the character of a a non-event.

That contest was a slog, with limited drama and interminable tedium. This recent match and that slow Test are polar opposites of the range – neither ideal, yet historical weight can be ascribed to them.

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

"It's not the end of the long game at all," observed a former player. "The people who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been given some genuine drama. Different entertainment."

Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope

In the build-up to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.

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

Emerging talents performed with crucial roles. These are baby steps, hardly enough to secure long-term stability, but a foundation to use as a platform.

Ultimately, this triumph is added to other memorable performances in dead rubbers.

As the fans left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad gathered on the turf to start their own festivities.

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