'Are You Not Entertained?' The Reason a Shortened Test Remained Every Bit a Proper Test Match.

Displayed inside a glass case on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a neon pink ensemble worn by Robbie Williams. The show in front of a massive crowd of fans was hailed as a triumph.

Perhaps you don't appreciate the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, acknowledging that some tracks are fantastic while others are poor.

The key argument is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no one way to craft music or even Test cricket.

The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format

The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on conditions.

The weather, the time of day, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the playing surface.

If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the canvas on which the cricketers create their art.

A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle

The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the great game broken apart and stuck back together in abstract form.

It must be stated this is not a justification of the wicket which produced a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.

Allowing excessive grass on the surface, leading to numerous dismissals tumbling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.

A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket

But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.

The format is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and still growing. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.

The thrillers are all the more thrilling due to the patience committed in other matches.

Adjustment: The True Test

Specific conditions are accepted more easily than others.

The contention in during the match was that the balance was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the best players were unable from demonstrating their skill.

Test cricket is about finding solutions – reading the wicket and adapting appropriately. The two highest individual contributions were made by recognized players. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.

Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited

Try telling the supporters who have endured 18 winless matches that this wasn't compelling.

In a corner of the stadium, a sea of people celebrated and created an atmosphere, producing a festive mood in a stronghold of sport.

There was belief as the fielding side excelled, impetus when batters scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the win was achieved.

Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches

The Melbourne has previous experience with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a wicket with all the life of a a non-event.

That fixture was a marathon, with limited drama and endless boredom. This recent match and that previous match are polar opposites of the spectrum – both are not ideal, yet significance can be found in each.

At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the memory.

"It's not the death of the format at all," said a former player. "Fans who have been privileged to see these short time have been treated to some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."

Signs of Progress: Building for the Future

In the lead-in to this Test, the leader talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.

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

Different players delivered with crucial roles. These are small positives, not nearly enough to ensure long-term stability, but a foundation to build on.

Ultimately, this triumph is added to other historic performances in dead rubbers.

As the supporters left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad assembled on the outfield to start their own festivities.

Enjoy the drink, lads. You've earned this one.