'Did It Not Captivate?' Why a Shortened Fixture Remained Every Bit a Genuine Test.

Displayed inside a display cabinet on the third floor of the MCG sits a vibrant pink suit performed in by the entertainer. His performance in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a major hit.

Perhaps you don't appreciate Robbie Williams. You might think he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some tracks are belting while others are awful.

The point being is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is not a single method to craft literature or even the longest format.

The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format

The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on external factors.

The elements, the time of day, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the pitch.

If the format is a form of art, the pitch is the foundation on which the athletes create their art.

An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle

The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the great game dismantled and reconstructed in abstract form.

It must be stated this is not a justification of the surface which produced a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.

Having 10mm of grass on the pitch, resulting in a cascade of wickets falling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.

A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket

But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.

Test cricket is a diverse canvas, a long history and still growing. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Other times, it turns square on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.

The exciting finishes are particularly captivating owing to the time made in other matches.

Adjustment: The True Test

Certain variables are accepted more easily than others.

The contention in during the match was that the balance was tipped too far towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were unable from playing their natural game.

Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the situation and responding accordingly. The best individual contributions were made by recognized batters. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.

Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited

Attempt to convince the devotees who have endured a long drought that this wasn't compelling.

In a corner of the MCG, thousands waved their flags and created an atmosphere, fostering a festive mood in a bastion of Australian cricket.

There was hope as the attack dominated, momentum when players responded, and pure joy when the result was confirmed.

Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches

The MCG has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a game there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a non-event.

That match was a marathon, with minimal action and slow play. The latest encounter and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the range – both are not perfect, yet value can be ascribed to them.

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

"This isn't the death of Test cricket at all," commented a former player. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these short time have been experienced some fantastic sport. A unique show."

Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope

In the lead-in to this Test, the skipper talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.

The players responded for him, reinstating the smile to his countenance.

Different players performed with vital performances. These are small positives, certainly not enough to secure long-term futures, but a starting point to build on.

Ultimately, this MCG win takes its place among other notable performances in similar circumstances.

As the crowd slipped away into a beautiful night, the squad assembled on the outfield to start their own festivities.

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