'Did It Not Captivate?' The Reason a Shortened Match Deserved Its Status as a Proper Test.

Displayed inside a display cabinet on the upper level of the MCG is housed a vibrant pink outfit performed in by Robbie Williams. His performance in front of a hundred thousand attendees was considered a success.

You might not enjoy the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some hits are belting while others are poor.

The central idea is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to craft literature or even the longest format.

The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game

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

The climate, the session, the ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the wicket.

If the format is a form of art, the wicket is the foundation on which the players craft their legacy.

A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match

The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport broken apart and stuck back together in abstract form.

Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the wicket which yielded a triumph and the second two-day Test of the series.

Leaving a thick layer on the surface, leading to a cascade of wickets being taken in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.

A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket

But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.

The format is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and still growing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the fast men. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.

The thrillers are even more exciting because of the time made during quieter periods.

Problem Solving: The Core Skill

Some factors are accepted more freely than others.

The debate in at the MCG was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the best players were unable from playing their natural game.

The format is about finding solutions – interpreting the conditions and adjusting appropriately. The top two individual innings were made by acknowledged batters. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.

Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View

Go and inform the fans who have experienced years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.

In one section of the stadium, a sea of people made noise and created an atmosphere, fostering a party atmosphere in a stronghold of national pride.

There was optimism as the fielding side excelled, advantage when batters fought back, and pure joy when the victory was secured.

Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches

The MCG has form with pitch problems. Previously, a match there featured a wicket with all the life of a a non-event.

That contest was a grind, with minimal action and slow play. This recent match and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the range – neither the standard, yet significance can be attached to them.

Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the memory.

"This isn't the end of the format at all," observed a former player. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been treated to some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."

Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope

In the preparation to this Test, the captain talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.

The squad responded for him, bringing back the joy to his countenance.

Emerging talents performed with key contributions. These are small positives, not nearly enough to ensure long-term futures, but a foundation to build on.

In the end, this Melbourne victory joins other historic performances in similar circumstances.

As the supporters departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players gathered on the turf to start their own enjoyment.

Celebrate the win, boys. You've earned this one.