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

Displayed inside a showcase on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a electric pink ensemble donned by the pop star. His concert in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a major hit.

You might not appreciate Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music known to man. You might take a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some tracks are belting while others are poor.

The central idea is that enjoyment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to create music or even the longest format.

The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket

Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on the environment.

The climate, the session, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the pitch.

If Test cricket is a form of art, the strip is the canvas on which the players create their art.

A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test

The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the established format broken apart and reconstructed in abstract form.

This is not a defence of the surface which resulted in a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.

Leaving a thick layer on the surface, causing numerous dismissals falling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.

A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket

But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.

The format is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and ongoing. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the ball does all sorts for the fast men. Sometimes, it turns square on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.

The close matches are even more exciting due to the time committed during quieter periods.

Adjustment: The Real Challenge

Specific conditions are accepted more easily than others.

The debate in Melbourne was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the attack. That the best players were hindered from playing their natural game.

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

Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective

Try telling the fans who have endured years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.

Among the crowd of the stadium, countless fans waved their flags and sang their songs, generating a carnival vibe in a heartland of Australian cricket.

There was belief as the bowlers dominated, momentum when the top order scored quickly, and pure joy when the win was achieved.

Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches

The venue has form with difficult wickets. Previously, a Test there featured a wicket with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.

That match was a slog, with limited drama and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – one is not more ideal, yet historical weight can be attached to them.

Deep into the series into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the memory.

"Far from being the demise of the long game at all," said a past champion. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these two days have been experienced some fantastic sport. A unique show."

Signs of Progress: Building for the Future

In the preparation to this Test, the captain spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.

The players delivered for him, bringing back the joy to his countenance.

Different players delivered with crucial roles. These are small positives, not nearly enough to secure long-term success, but a foundation to develop from.

At the very least, this MCG win is added to other historic performances in meaningless games.

As the supporters left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad assembled on the field to begin their own celebrations.

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