'Are You Not Entertained?' The Reason a Two-Day Fixture Deserved Its Status as a Authentic Cricket Test.

Within a glass case on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a neon pink outfit worn by the pop star. His concert in front of a massive crowd of spectators was seen as a triumph.

Perhaps you don't appreciate Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music in history. Or you could adopt a balanced view, admitting that some songs are excellent while others are poor.

The central idea is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to craft literature or even Test cricket.

The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format

The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by the environment.

The climate, the time of day, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the pitch.

If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the blank slate on which the players craft their legacy.

A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test

The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport broken apart and stuck back together in an unusual manner.

Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the wicket which yielded a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.

Leaving excessive grass on the surface, causing numerous dismissals falling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.

A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket

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

The long game is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and counting. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Other times, it turns square on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.

The thrillers are particularly captivating because of the time committed during quieter periods.

Adjustment: The Real Challenge

Certain variables are embraced more easily than others.

The debate in at the MCG was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the top batters were hindered from playing their natural game.

This level of cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the wicket and adapting accordingly. The top two individual scores were made by world-class stars. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.

Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View

Go and inform the supporters who have endured 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.

In one section of the ground, a sea of people celebrated and sang their songs, generating a festive mood in a bastion of national pride.

There was hope as the fielding side excelled, momentum when players fought back, and unconditional love when the victory was secured.

Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches

The MCG has form with controversial surfaces. In the past, a game there featured a pitch with the excitement of a a damp squib.

That contest was a grind, with limited drama and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that slow Test are extreme ends of the scale – one is not more perfect, yet value can be ascribed to them.

At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.

"Far from being the demise of the long game at all," observed a veteran. "The people who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been experienced some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."

Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope

In the preparation to this match, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.

The squad responded for him, reinstating the smile to his countenance.

Different players stepped up with crucial roles. These are small positives, hardly enough to secure long-term stability, but a foundation to use as a platform.

In the end, this triumph is added to other notable performances in similar circumstances.

As the fans left into a stunning sunset, the team gathered on the turf to commence their own enjoyment.

Savour the moment, boys. It's well deserved.