'Did It Not Captivate?' The Reason a 48-Hour Test Remained Every Bit a Authentic Test Match.

Within a glass case on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a electric pink suit donned by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of a massive crowd of attendees was considered a success.

Perhaps you don't enjoy Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some tracks are fantastic while others are awful.

The key argument is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to create art or even five-day cricket.

The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game

The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on the environment.

The elements, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Most important is the playing surface.

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

A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test

The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was an abstract version of cricket, the established format taken to pieces and reconstructed in an unusual manner.

It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the pitch which resulted in a triumph and the another short match of the Ashes battle.

Leaving excessive grass on the pitch, causing a cascade of wickets falling in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.

A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket

But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.

Test cricket is a varied portfolio, a long history and still growing. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.

The close matches are all the more thrilling because of the investment devoted elsewhere.

Adjustment: The True Test

Certain variables are accepted more readily than others.

The debate in at the MCG was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the top batters were prevented from demonstrating their skill.

Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the situation and responding appropriately. The best individual innings were made by acknowledged batters. One side committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.

Pure Elation: The Supporters' View

Attempt to convince the fans who have endured years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.

In a corner of the MCG, countless fans made noise and chanted, generating a party atmosphere in a heartland of sport.

There was optimism as the fielding side surged, impetus when the top order responded, and unconditional love when the win was confirmed.

Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches

The MCG has a history with pitch problems. Previously, a game there featured a strip with the excitement of a a damp squib.

That contest was a grind, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that previous match are extreme ends of the scale – neither ideal, yet value can be ascribed to them.

Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the memory.

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

Small Victories: Looking Ahead

In the lead-in to this match, the skipper talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.

The squad protected him, bringing back the smile to his face.

Emerging talents stepped up with key contributions. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a foundation to use as a platform.

In the end, this triumph joins other memorable performances in similar circumstances.

As the supporters left into a beautiful night, the players gathered on the turf to begin their own enjoyment.

Celebrate the win, boys. It's well deserved.