'Did It Not Captivate?' Why a 48-Hour Test Was No Less a Proper Cricket Test.

In a showcase on the third floor of the MCG is housed a neon pink suit worn by Robbie Williams. The performance in front of a hundred thousand spectators was seen as a success.

You might not appreciate his music. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music known to man. You might take a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some hits are excellent while others are poor.

The key argument is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to craft literature or even the longest format.

The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format

Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on conditions.

The weather, the session, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the pitch.

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

An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test

The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England 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 pitch which produced a triumph and the another short match of the contest.

Allowing a thick layer on the surface, leading to a cascade of wickets being taken in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.

A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket

But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.

The long game is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and counting. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the fast men. Other times, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.

The close matches are particularly captivating owing to the patience made during quieter periods.

Problem Solving: The Core Skill

Some factors are embraced more easily than others.

The argument in Melbourne was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the top batters were unable from playing their natural game.

This level of cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the wicket and adapting appropriately. The top two individual innings were made by recognized players. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.

Pure Elation: The Supporters' View

Go and inform the devotees who have suffered a long drought that this was not entertaining.

In one section of the stadium, a sea of people celebrated and chanted, producing a party atmosphere in a heartland of national pride.

There was hope as the bowlers dominated, advantage when batters responded, and unconditional love when the result was secured.

Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches

The venue has form with controversial surfaces. Previously, a Test there featured a strip with the character of a a non-event.

That fixture was a slog, with limited drama and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the scale – one is not more ideal, yet historical weight can be attached to them.

Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the memory.

"Far from being the death of the long game at all," commented a former player. "The people who have been fortunate to see these two days have been experienced some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."

Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope

In the preparation to this Test, the skipper talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.

The players responded for him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his face.

Different players delivered with vital performances. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to ensure long-term stability, but a starting point to develop from.

At the very least, this Melbourne victory joins other memorable performances in meaningless games.

As the fans departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team gathered on the outfield to begin their own celebrations.

Enjoy the drink, boys. You've earned this one.