'Are You Not Entertained?' Why a Two-Day Fixture Deserved Its Status as a Genuine Test.

In a glass case on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a electric pink outfit donned by Robbie Williams. His show in front of a massive crowd of spectators was considered a success.

You might not like Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music in history. You might take a balanced view, admitting that some songs are belting while others are poor.

The key argument is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no one way to create literature or even five-day cricket.

The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game

The traditional format boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by conditions.

The elements, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the wicket.

If the format is a form of art, the strip is the foundation on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.

A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test

The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the great game broken apart and reassembled in a bizarre shape.

This is not a justification of the pitch which produced a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.

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

A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket

But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is mistaken.

Test cricket is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and counting. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.

The exciting finishes are particularly captivating due to the investment committed during quieter periods.

Adjustment: The Core Skill

Some factors are embraced more easily than others.

The debate in Melbourne was that the balance was tipped too far towards the attack. That the top batters were prevented from playing their natural game.

This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – reading the situation and adapting appropriately. The two highest individual contributions were made by world-class batters. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.

Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited

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

In one section of the MCG, a sea of people made noise and sang their songs, generating a festive mood in a stronghold of Australian cricket.

There was optimism as the bowlers dominated, impetus when the top order scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the victory was achieved.

Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches

The MCG has previous experience with controversial surfaces. In the past, a match there featured a strip with the excitement of a a non-event.

That match was a grind, with minimal action and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that previous match are extreme ends of the spectrum – both are not perfect, yet value can be ascribed to both.

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

"Far from being the end of the format at all," observed a past champion. "The people who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been treated to some fantastic sport. A unique show."

Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead

In the preparation to this match, the leader spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.

The squad protected him, restoring the joy to his countenance.

New faces delivered with key contributions. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to secure long-term futures, but something to build on.

In the end, this MCG win takes its place among other memorable performances in meaningless games.

As the crowd slipped away into a beautiful night, the players congregated on the turf to commence their own enjoyment.

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