'Are You Not Entertained?' Why a 48-Hour Match Was No Less a Authentic Cricket Test.

In a glass case on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a vibrant pink ensemble worn by the pop star. His concert in front of a hundred thousand attendees was hailed as a success.

Perhaps you don't appreciate Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Or you could adopt a balanced view, admitting that some hits are excellent while others are awful.

The point being is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to produce music or even the longest format.

The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game

Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by the environment.

The climate, the time of day, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Most important is the wicket.

If Test cricket is art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the players create their art.

An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test

The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the established format broken apart and stuck back together in an unusual manner.

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

Allowing 10mm of grass on the surface, resulting in a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.

A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket

But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.

The long game is a varied portfolio, a long history and counting. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. Sometimes, it turns square on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.

The thrillers are all the more thrilling owing to the time committed during quieter periods.

Adjustment: The Core Skill

Certain variables are embraced more readily than others.

The debate in at the MCG was that the contest was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were hindered from showcasing their talents.

The format is about adapting to challenges – reading the conditions and responding accordingly. The best individual innings were made by world-class stars. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus ended up second best.

Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View

Try telling the fans who have endured a long drought that this lacked spectacle.

In one section of the ground, a sea of people made noise and chanted, producing a party atmosphere in a bastion of Australian cricket.

There was belief as the bowlers surged, impetus when players responded, and rapturous celebration when the victory was confirmed.

Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches

The Melbourne has form with pitch problems. In the past, a match there featured a pitch with the character of a a non-event.

That contest was a grind, with limited drama and slow play. The latest encounter and that slow Test are extreme ends of the scale – both are not perfect, yet significance can be ascribed to both.

Four Tests into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will be most remembered in the history books.

"This isn't the demise of Test cricket at all," observed a past champion. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been given some real entertainment. A unique show."

Small Victories: Building for the Future

In the lead-in to this Test, the leader talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.

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

New faces stepped up with vital performances. These are small positives, not nearly enough to secure long-term futures, but a foundation to use as a platform.

At the very least, this triumph takes its place among other historic performances in similar circumstances.

As the crowd left into a stunning sunset, the players congregated on the outfield to commence their own festivities.

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