'Did It Not Captivate?' Why a Shortened Fixture Was No Less a Proper Cricket Test.

Displayed inside a glass case on the upper level of the MCG is housed a neon pink ensemble worn by the pop star. His concert in front of a hundred thousand fans was considered a success.

You might not like Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music in history. Or you could adopt a balanced view, acknowledging that some hits are fantastic while others are terrible.

The key argument is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to create music or even Test cricket.

The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game

The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon conditions.

The climate, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Most important is the wicket.

If the long game is a form of art, the strip is the blank slate on which the players paint their masterpiece.

A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test

The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the established format taken to pieces and stuck back together in abstract form.

This is not a justification of the pitch which resulted in a victory and the another short match of the series.

Leaving a thick layer on the pitch, resulting in a cascade of wickets being taken in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.

A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket

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

The long game is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and still growing. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.

The close matches are even more exciting due to the patience devoted during quieter periods.

Adaptation: The Real Challenge

Certain variables are tolerated more freely than others.

The argument in Melbourne was that the balance was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the top batters were prevented from playing their natural game.

Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the wicket and adjusting appropriately. The top two individual contributions were made by world-class stars. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.

Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective

Attempt to convince the devotees who have endured a long drought that this lacked spectacle.

Among the crowd of the stadium, thousands made noise and chanted, fostering a party atmosphere in a heartland of sport.

There was hope as the fielding side dominated, advantage when players fought back, and pure joy when the result was confirmed.

Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches

The MCG has a history with difficult wickets. Previously, a game there featured a strip with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.

That fixture was a grind, with limited drama and slow play. This recent match and that slow Test are extreme ends of the spectrum – both are not perfect, yet significance can be attached to them.

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

"Far from being the end of the long game at all," observed a former player. "The people who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been given some genuine drama. A unique show."

Small Victories: Building for the Future

In the lead-in to this match, the skipper talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.

The players protected him, reinstating the smile to his countenance.

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

Ultimately, this MCG win joins other memorable performances in meaningless games.

As the fans slipped away into a stunning sunset, the squad congregated on the turf to begin their own celebrations.

Savour the moment, boys. It's well deserved.