'Are You Not Entertained?' The Reason a 48-Hour Match Was No Less a Genuine Cricket Test.

In a showcase on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a vibrant pink outfit worn by the entertainer. The show in front of a hundred thousand spectators was considered a success.

Perhaps you don't enjoy Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a balanced view, admitting that some songs are fantastic while others are awful.

The point being is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to produce art or even Test cricket.

The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game

Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by external factors.

The weather, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the wicket.

If the format is a form of art, the wicket is the foundation on which the cricketers create their art.

A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match

The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the established format dismantled and stuck back together in abstract form.

This is not a justification of the surface which yielded a triumph and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.

Having a thick layer on the wicket, resulting in a cascade of wickets being taken in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.

A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket

But any suggestion this was a inferior show, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is mistaken.

The format is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and still growing. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. In contrast, it turns square on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.

The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling due to the investment made elsewhere.

Adjustment: The Real Challenge

Some factors are accepted more freely than others.

The argument in during the match was that the balance was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the best players were unable from demonstrating their skill.

This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the situation and adapting effectively. The two highest individual scores were made by recognized players. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.

Pure Elation: The Supporters' View

Go and inform the devotees who have suffered a long drought that this lacked spectacle.

Among the crowd of the stadium, countless fans made noise and created an atmosphere, fostering a carnival vibe in a heartland of Australian cricket.

There was optimism as the attack surged, impetus when players scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the result was confirmed.

Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches

The venue has a history with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a game there featured a pitch with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.

That fixture was a marathon, with minimal action and endless boredom. The two-day game and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the spectrum – neither the standard, yet value can be found in each.

Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the history books.

"Far from being the end of Test cricket at all," commented a veteran. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been experienced some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."

Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope

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

The squad delivered for him, reinstating the joy to his face.

Different players stepped up with key contributions. These are small positives, certainly not enough to secure long-term stability, but a starting point to develop from.

At the very least, this MCG win joins other memorable performances in meaningless games.

As the supporters slipped away into a stunning sunset, the players congregated on the field to start their own enjoyment.

Celebrate the win, boys. You've earned this one.