'Are You Not Entertained?' Why a Shortened Test Deserved Its Status as a Genuine Test.

Displayed inside a showcase on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a vibrant pink suit performed in by the entertainer. His performance in front of a massive crowd of fans was hailed as a success.

You might not enjoy Robbie Williams. You might think he is the finest offering to music in history. You might take a middle ground, conceding that some tracks are excellent while others are terrible.

The central idea is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to craft music or even the longest format.

The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format

The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon the environment.

The weather, the session, the red ball – the list is endless. Crucially is the playing surface.

If Test cricket is art, the strip is the blank slate on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.

An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle

The Boxing Day fixture between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport taken to pieces and reconstructed in an unusual manner.

This is not a defence of the wicket which yielded a victory and the another short match of the series.

Having excessive grass on the wicket, resulting in a cascade of wickets being taken in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.

A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket

But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is mistaken.

Test cricket is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and still growing. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball does all sorts for the fast men. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.

The close matches are all the more thrilling owing to the time devoted during quieter periods.

Adaptation: The True Test

Some factors are tolerated more easily than others.

The argument in during the match was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the top batters were prevented from showcasing their talents.

This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the conditions and adjusting accordingly. The two highest individual scores were made by acknowledged players. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.

Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited

Try telling the fans who have experienced years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.

Among the crowd of the MCG, thousands made noise and chanted, generating a carnival vibe in a bastion of Australian cricket.

There was optimism as the fielding side excelled, impetus when batters responded, and unconditional love when the victory was secured.

Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches

The Melbourne has a history with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a match there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a non-event.

That contest was a grind, with minimal action and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – one is not more perfect, yet significance can be attached to both.

At this stage into the current series, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.

"Far from being the end of the format at all," said a former player. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these short time have been treated to some genuine drama. A unique show."

Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope

In the build-up to this match, the skipper talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.

The team delivered for him, bringing back the smile to his persona.

New faces stepped up with crucial roles. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a foundation to develop from.

At the very least, this Melbourne victory is added to other memorable performances in dead rubbers.

As the crowd slipped away into a beautiful night, the squad gathered on the turf to begin their own celebrations.

Savour the moment, boys. You've earned this one.