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

Within a glass case on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a neon pink ensemble worn by Robbie Williams. The performance in front of a hundred thousand spectators was seen as a triumph.

You might not enjoy his music. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, admitting that some hits are excellent while others are poor.

The key argument is that amusement can take many forms. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to craft art or even Test cricket.

The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game

The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on conditions.

The weather, the session, the ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the pitch.

If the long game is a form of art, the pitch is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.

An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match

The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reassembled in abstract form.

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

Allowing 10mm of grass on the surface, causing a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.

A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket

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

Test cricket is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and still growing. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.

The exciting finishes are particularly captivating owing to the patience made elsewhere.

Adaptation: The Core Skill

Certain variables are embraced more easily than others.

The argument in at the MCG was that the contest was tipped too far towards the attack. That the best players were prevented from playing their natural game.

Test cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the situation and adjusting appropriately. The two highest individual contributions were made by world-class stars. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.

Pure Elation: The Supporters' View

Attempt to convince the supporters who have suffered years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.

In one section of the MCG, a sea of people waved their flags and chanted, producing a carnival vibe in a bastion of Australian cricket.

There was belief as the attack dominated, impetus when batters fought back, and unconditional love when the victory was confirmed.

Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches

The MCG has previous experience with controversial surfaces. In the past, a match there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a non-event.

That contest was a slog, with few wickets and slow play. The two-day game and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – one is not more perfect, yet value can be found in both.

Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the collective consciousness.

"This isn't the death of the long game at all," said a veteran. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been given some real entertainment. 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 heavy burden on his shoulders.

The players delivered for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his face.

Emerging talents stepped up with vital performances. These are baby steps, hardly enough to ensure long-term futures, but a starting point to develop from.

Ultimately, this MCG win joins other notable performances in dead rubbers.

As the fans departed into a stunning sunset, the squad congregated on the turf to start their own celebrations.

Savour the moment, boys. You've earned this one.