'Did It Not Captivate?' The Reason a Shortened Match Was No Less a Authentic Cricket Test.

In a glass case on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a neon pink ensemble performed in by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of a hundred thousand attendees was seen as a triumph.

Perhaps you don't appreciate Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, conceding that some tracks are fantastic while others are poor.

The central idea is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no one way to produce art or even Test cricket.

The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket

The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon conditions.

The elements, the time of day, the red ball – the list is endless. Above all is the wicket.

If the long game is art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.

A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle

The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the established format dismantled and reassembled in an unusual manner.

This is not a endorsement of the surface which yielded a victory and the second two-day Test of the contest.

Having 10mm of grass on the wicket, causing 36 wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.

A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket

But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is mistaken.

Test cricket is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and counting. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.

The exciting finishes are particularly captivating because of the patience made elsewhere.

Adjustment: The Real Challenge

Some factors are accepted more freely than others.

The debate in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the best players were prevented from playing their natural game.

The format is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the situation and adjusting accordingly. The top two individual scores were made by recognized players. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.

Pure Elation: The Supporters' View

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

In a corner of the stadium, thousands made noise and chanted, fostering a festive mood in a heartland of national pride.

There was optimism as the bowlers surged, advantage when the top order responded, and rapturous celebration when the victory was achieved.

Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches

The Melbourne has form with controversial surfaces. In the past, a match there featured a wicket with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.

That match was a slog, with minimal action and slow play. This recent match and that slow Test are polar opposites of the scale – neither the standard, yet significance can be attached to them.

At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the memory.

"This isn't the demise of the long game at all," observed a veteran. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been experienced some real entertainment. A unique show."

Baby Steps: Building for the Future

In the lead-in to this Test, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.

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

New faces stepped up with key contributions. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to ensure long-term success, but a foundation to use as a platform.

Ultimately, this triumph takes its place among other historic performances in dead rubbers.

As the supporters left into a stunning sunset, the players gathered on the outfield to start their own festivities.

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