'Are You Not Entertained?' Why a Shortened Fixture Remained Every Bit a Proper Test Match.

Displayed inside a showcase on the third floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a neon pink outfit donned by the pop star. His performance in front of 100,024 attendees was hailed as a major hit.

It's possible you appreciate Robbie Williams. You might think he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a middle ground, admitting that some hits are excellent while others are poor.

The key argument is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to produce music or even five-day cricket.

The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game

Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by the environment.

The climate, the time of day, the ball – the list is endless. Most important is the pitch.

If the long game is art, the pitch is the foundation on which the players paint their masterpiece.

A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match

The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the great game dismantled and reconstructed in abstract form.

This is not a defence of the surface which yielded a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.

Having 10mm of grass on the wicket, causing numerous dismissals being taken in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.

A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket

But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is incorrect.

The format is a diverse canvas, a long history and ongoing. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball moves excessively for the seamers. Other times, it turns square on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.

The exciting finishes are even more exciting because of the investment devoted during quieter periods.

Adjustment: The Core Skill

Certain variables are embraced more readily than others.

The debate in Melbourne was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were hindered from showcasing their talents.

This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the situation and responding effectively. The two highest individual innings were made by world-class stars. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.

Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited

Try telling the supporters who have experienced years of defeat that this was not entertaining.

Among the crowd of the stadium, thousands made noise and chanted, fostering a party atmosphere in a heartland of sport.

There was hope as the fielding side excelled, advantage when the top order scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the victory was achieved.

Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches

The venue has a history with difficult wickets. In the past, a match there featured a wicket with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.

That fixture was a grind, with limited drama and slow play. This recent match and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – one is not more the standard, yet historical weight can be attached to them.

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

"Far from being the demise of Test cricket at all," commented a veteran. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been given some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."

Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope

In the lead-in 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 countenance.

Emerging talents delivered with crucial roles. These are baby steps, hardly enough to guarantee long-term stability, but something to develop from.

At the very least, this triumph takes its place among other notable performances in similar circumstances.

As the supporters departed into a stunning sunset, the players assembled on the turf to begin their own celebrations.

Enjoy the drink, lads. This victory was hard-fought.