'Did It Not Captivate?' The Reason a Shortened Fixture Remained Every Bit a Proper Test Match.

Within a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a electric pink suit worn by the pop star. His performance in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a success.

You might not enjoy the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Or you could adopt a balanced view, admitting that some tracks are belting while others are terrible.

The central idea is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to produce music or even the longest format.

The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket

Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on conditions.

The climate, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the wicket.

If the format is art, the wicket is the foundation on which the players create their art.

A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match

The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the established format dismantled and reassembled in abstract form.

It must be stated this is not a defence of the surface which resulted in a win and the another short match of the series.

Leaving 10mm of grass on the wicket, causing 36 wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.

A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket

But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is mistaken.

The format is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and counting. At times, as seen at the MCG, the ball does all sorts for the fast men. Other times, it spins sharply on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.

The thrillers are particularly captivating owing to the patience committed in other matches.

Problem Solving: The Real Challenge

Some factors are tolerated more easily than others.

The contention in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the top batters were hindered from showcasing their talents.

Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the wicket and responding accordingly. The best individual scores were made by acknowledged batters. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.

Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited

Try telling the devotees who have suffered a long drought that this wasn't compelling.

Among the crowd of the MCG, countless fans made noise and chanted, producing a party atmosphere in a stronghold of national pride.

There was optimism as the fielding side surged, advantage when the top order responded, and pure joy when the result was confirmed.

Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches

The MCG has a history with difficult wickets. In the past, a match there featured a pitch with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.

That match was a grind, with few wickets and slow play. This recent match and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the scale – both are not perfect, yet significance can be attached to both.

Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.

"Far from being the end of Test cricket at all," commented a past champion. "The people who have been fortunate to see these two days have been experienced some real entertainment. Different entertainment."

Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead

In the lead-in to this Test, the leader talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.

The squad delivered for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his persona.

Different players performed with key contributions. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to ensure long-term stability, but something to develop from.

At the very least, this triumph is added to other historic performances in dead rubbers.

As the fans slipped away into a stunning sunset, the squad assembled on the outfield to start their own enjoyment.

Enjoy the drink, men. It's well deserved.