'Are You Not Entertained?' The Reason a Two-Day Fixture Was No Less a Proper Cricket Test.

In a glass case on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a vibrant pink suit donned by Robbie Williams. The concert in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a major hit.

It's possible you enjoy Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some songs are excellent while others are poor.

The point being is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is no one way to craft art or even five-day cricket.

The Unrivalled Depth of The Test Format

The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by conditions.

The weather, the session, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the playing surface.

If the format is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the blank slate on which the athletes create their art.

An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match

The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the great game taken to pieces and stuck back together in abstract form.

It must be stated this is not a justification of the wicket which yielded a triumph and the another short match of the Ashes battle.

Having a thick layer on the pitch, causing numerous dismissals falling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.

A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket

But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is incorrect.

The long game is a diverse canvas, a long history and still growing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Other times, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it spits like a cobra.

The exciting finishes are even more exciting owing to the investment devoted elsewhere.

Adjustment: The Core Skill

Some factors are accepted more readily than others.

The argument in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the top batters were prevented from demonstrating their skill.

The format is about finding solutions – interpreting the wicket and adapting effectively. The best individual contributions were made by world-class stars. One line-up committed more errors than the other, and thus were defeated.

Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective

Try telling the supporters who have experienced years of defeat that this was not entertaining.

In one section of the stadium, thousands waved their flags and created an atmosphere, generating a party atmosphere in a heartland of Australian cricket.

There was hope as the bowlers surged, impetus when the top order responded, and rapturous celebration when the victory was secured.

Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches

The venue has form with controversial surfaces. In the past, a game there featured a pitch with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.

That fixture was a grind, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the scale – both are not the standard, yet value can be attached to each.

Four Tests into the current series, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the memory.

"Far from being the demise of the format at all," observed a veteran. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been treated to some fantastic sport. A unique show."

Baby Steps: Building for the Future

In the build-up to this match, the leader talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.

The players delivered for him, reinstating the positive demeanor to his persona.

Emerging talents delivered with crucial roles. These are small positives, certainly not enough to secure long-term stability, but something to build on.

In the end, this MCG win is added to other memorable performances in meaningless games.

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

Savour the moment, men. This victory was hard-fought.