'Did It Not Captivate?' The Reason a Two-Day Test Was No Less a Genuine Cricket Test.

In a glass case on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a vibrant pink outfit worn by Robbie Williams. The performance in front of 100,024 fans was seen as a major hit.

You might not appreciate Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, conceding that some songs are belting while others are terrible.

The central idea is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no one way to craft art or even the longest format.

The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket

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

The climate, the time of day, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the pitch.

If Test cricket is a form of art, the strip is the blank slate on which the cricketers create their art.

An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match

The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the established format broken apart and stuck back together in abstract form.

It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the pitch which resulted in a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.

Leaving excessive grass on the wicket, resulting in a cascade of wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.

A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket

But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is incorrect.

The format is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and counting. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the fast men. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.

The close matches are even more exciting because of the patience devoted elsewhere.

Problem Solving: The True Test

Specific conditions are accepted more easily than others.

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

The format is about finding solutions – reading the situation and adjusting effectively. The two highest individual innings were made by recognized players. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.

Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective

Try telling the supporters who have endured years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.

Among the crowd of the MCG, thousands waved their flags and created an atmosphere, generating a party atmosphere in a heartland of Australian cricket.

There was belief as the fielding side surged, impetus when the top order scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the win was achieved.

Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches

The Melbourne has previous experience with difficult wickets. Previously, a Test there featured a pitch with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.

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 each.

Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the history books.

"It's not the demise of the long game at all," commented a past champion. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been treated to some real entertainment. A unique show."

Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead

In the build-up to this Test, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.

The team protected him, restoring the smile to his countenance.

Emerging talents stepped up with vital performances. These are small positives, not nearly enough to ensure long-term futures, but a foundation to use as a platform.

At the very least, this triumph joins other memorable performances in similar circumstances.

As the fans departed into a stunning sunset, the team assembled on the turf to begin their own festivities.

Enjoy the drink, men. It's well deserved.