'Was That Not a Show?' Why a 48-Hour Test Was No Less a Authentic Test.

Displayed inside a display cabinet on the third floor of the MCG sits a electric pink suit performed in by Robbie Williams. His show in front of 100,024 spectators was hailed as a major hit.

Perhaps you don't like his music. You might think he is the finest offering to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, acknowledging that some hits are belting while others are poor.

The point being is that amusement can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is no one way to craft music or even five-day cricket.

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 weather, the time of day, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the pitch.

If the long game is a form of art, the wicket is the canvas on which the athletes craft their legacy.

A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match

The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the established format broken apart and reconstructed in an unusual manner.

It must be stated this is not a justification of the surface which resulted in a victory and the another short match of the contest.

Allowing 10mm of grass on the wicket, resulting in numerous dismissals being taken in less than two days, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.

A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket

But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.

Test cricket is a varied portfolio, a long history and ongoing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Sometimes, it turns square on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.

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

Adaptation: The Core Skill

Certain variables are embraced more freely than others.

The contention in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the top batters were unable from playing their natural game.

The format is about problem solving – interpreting the conditions and adapting accordingly. The top two individual innings were made by world-class players. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.

Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited

Go and inform the devotees who have experienced a long drought that this wasn't compelling.

Among the crowd of the ground, countless fans made noise and created an atmosphere, producing a party atmosphere in a bastion of national pride.

There was optimism as the attack dominated, impetus when the top order fought back, and pure joy when the victory was confirmed.

Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches

The venue has a history with controversial surfaces. In the past, a Test there featured a wicket with all the life of a a non-event.

That contest was a marathon, with limited drama and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the spectrum – both are not the standard, yet value can be ascribed to both.

At this stage into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the collective consciousness.

"It's not the death of the long game at all," said a former player. "Fans who have been privileged to see these short time have been treated to some genuine drama. A unique show."

Baby Steps: Looking Ahead

In the preparation to this match, the captain talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.

The team delivered for him, restoring the smile to his countenance.

Different players delivered with key contributions. These are small positives, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term stability, but something to use as a platform.

Ultimately, this MCG win is added to other notable performances in dead rubbers.

As the crowd left into a beautiful night, the team congregated on the field to begin their own enjoyment.

Savour the moment, boys. It's well deserved.