'Did It Not Captivate?' Why a Two-Day Test Remained Every Bit a Proper Test Match.

Within a display cabinet on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a electric pink ensemble donned by the entertainer. His performance in front of 100,024 attendees was hailed as a triumph.

You might not enjoy Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, acknowledging that some hits are excellent while others are poor.

The point being is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to create art or even the longest format.

The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket

The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon conditions.

The weather, the hour of play, the red ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the pitch.

If the long game is art, the strip is the foundation on which the athletes craft their legacy.

A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match

The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the established format dismantled and stuck back together in abstract form.

This is not a justification of the wicket which produced a victory and the another short match of the contest.

Leaving 10mm of grass on the surface, resulting in numerous dismissals being taken in less than two days, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.

A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket

But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is mistaken.

Test cricket is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and still growing. At times, as seen at the MCG, the ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. In contrast, it turns square on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.

The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling due to the investment made in other matches.

Adjustment: The Core Skill

Some factors are tolerated more freely than others.

The contention in at the MCG was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the top batters were unable from showcasing their talents.

This level of cricket is about problem solving – assessing the conditions and adjusting accordingly. The two highest individual contributions were made by recognized stars. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.

Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View

Attempt to convince the devotees who have endured a long drought that this wasn't compelling.

In a corner of the stadium, thousands waved their flags and sang their songs, producing a festive mood in a bastion of sport.

There was belief as the fielding side excelled, advantage when players responded, and pure joy when the win was achieved.

Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches

The MCG has form with difficult wickets. In the past, a Test there featured a wicket with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.

That contest was a slog, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that slow Test are polar opposites of the range – both are not the standard, yet value can be ascribed to both.

Four Tests into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the collective consciousness.

"Far from being the death of the format at all," said a former player. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these short time have been treated to some real entertainment. Different entertainment."

Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope

In the build-up to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.

The players protected him, bringing back the smile to his persona.

New faces stepped up with key contributions. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term stability, but something to build on.

Ultimately, this Melbourne victory joins other memorable performances in similar circumstances.

As the crowd left into a stunning sunset, the team congregated on the turf to commence their own enjoyment.

Celebrate the win, boys. This victory was hard-fought.