'Are You Not Entertained?' Why a Two-Day Match Remained Every Bit a Genuine Cricket Test.

Displayed inside a display cabinet on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a vibrant pink suit worn by the pop star. His performance in front of 100,024 attendees was hailed as a triumph.

It's possible you like the performer. Maybe you feel he is the finest offering to music known to man. Or you could adopt a balanced view, acknowledging that some hits are fantastic while others are poor.

The central idea is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to craft art or even five-day cricket.

The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format

The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon conditions.

The weather, the session, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the pitch.

If the format is a form of art, the pitch is the blank slate on which the players create their art.

A Test of Cubism: The MCG Match

The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport dismantled and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.

Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the pitch which yielded a victory and the another short match of the series.

Allowing excessive grass on the pitch, leading to a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.

A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket

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

The format is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and counting. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Other times, it turns square on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.

The close matches are particularly captivating due to the patience made during quieter periods.

Adjustment: The True Test

Some factors are accepted more freely than others.

The argument in during the match was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the best players were prevented from showcasing their talents.

The format is about problem solving – assessing the situation and adjusting effectively. The two highest individual contributions were made by recognized stars. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.

Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective

Attempt to convince the fans who have endured years of defeat that this was not entertaining.

In one section of the ground, countless fans waved their flags and created an atmosphere, fostering a party atmosphere in a bastion of national pride.

There was belief as the fielding side dominated, momentum when players scored quickly, and pure joy when the result was confirmed.

Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches

The MCG has a history with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a match there featured a strip with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.

That match was a marathon, with limited drama and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that previous match are polar opposites of the spectrum – both are not the standard, yet significance can be found in both.

At this stage into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the history books.

"Far from being the death of the long game at all," said a former player. "The people who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been treated to 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, restoring the smile to his persona.

Emerging talents stepped up with crucial roles. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a foundation to develop from.

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

As the fans slipped away into a stunning sunset, the players gathered on the turf to start their own enjoyment.

Celebrate the win, lads. This victory was hard-fought.