'Did It Not Captivate?' Why a Two-Day Match Was No Less a Proper Cricket Test.

In a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a neon pink outfit performed in by the entertainer. His performance in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a triumph.

It's possible you like the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music known to man. You might take a balanced view, acknowledging that some tracks are excellent while others are awful.

The central idea is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to produce art or even Test cricket.

The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format

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

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

If the format is art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the athletes create their art.

A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test

The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport broken apart and stuck back together in abstract form.

It must be stated this is not a defence of the wicket which yielded a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.

Having a thick layer on the pitch, causing a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.

A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket

But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.

The long game is a rich tapestry, a long history and counting. At times, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. In contrast, it turns square on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.

The close matches are all the more thrilling owing to the time made in other matches.

Adjustment: The True Test

Some factors are embraced more freely than others.

The debate in Melbourne was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the best players were prevented from showcasing their talents.

The format is about problem solving – interpreting the wicket and responding appropriately. The top two individual contributions were made by acknowledged players. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.

Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited

Attempt to convince the devotees who have endured years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.

In one section of the MCG, countless fans made noise and chanted, fostering a festive mood in a stronghold of Australian cricket.

There was optimism as the attack excelled, advantage when players responded, and unconditional love when the victory was secured.

Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches

The Melbourne has form with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a pitch with the character of a a damp squib.

That contest was a marathon, with minimal action and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the range – neither the standard, yet value can be found in both.

Deep into the series into the current series, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the history books.

"This isn't the death of the format at all," said a veteran. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been experienced some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."

Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope

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

The squad responded for him, restoring the smile to his face.

Different players stepped up with vital performances. These are small positives, hardly enough to ensure long-term success, but a starting point to develop from.

In the end, this MCG win takes its place among other memorable performances in meaningless games.

As the fans departed into a beautiful night, the squad congregated on the field to commence their own enjoyment.

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