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

Displayed inside a display cabinet on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a neon pink ensemble donned by the pop star. His show in front of a massive crowd of fans was seen as a triumph.

It's possible you appreciate his music. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music in history. Or you could adopt a middle ground, admitting that some songs are fantastic while others are terrible.

The central idea is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to produce literature or even Test cricket.

The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game

The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon conditions.

The elements, the hour of play, the ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the playing surface.

If Test cricket is a form of art, the strip is the canvas on which the players paint their masterpiece.

An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test

The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the great game taken to pieces and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.

Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the wicket which yielded a victory and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.

Having a thick layer on the pitch, resulting in numerous dismissals tumbling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between offense and defense.

A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket

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

The format is a diverse canvas, a long history and still growing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. In contrast, it grips and turns on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.

The close matches are even more exciting owing to the time committed during quieter periods.

Problem Solving: The True Test

Specific conditions are accepted more readily than others.

The contention in during the match was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the best players were prevented from playing their natural game.

This level of cricket is about problem solving – reading the situation and adjusting accordingly. The best individual innings were made by recognized batters. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.

Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View

Go and inform the devotees who have suffered years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.

Among the crowd of the MCG, countless fans waved their flags and chanted, generating a party atmosphere in a bastion of Australian cricket.

There was belief as the bowlers dominated, advantage when batters fought back, and unconditional love when the victory was achieved.

Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches

The Melbourne has a history with controversial surfaces. Previously, a Test there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a non-event.

That contest was a slog, with few wickets and endless boredom. This recent match and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the range – both are not the standard, yet value can be ascribed to each.

Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the memory.

"Far from being the end of the format at all," observed a veteran. "The people who have been fortunate to see these short time have been treated to some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."

Small Victories: Looking Ahead

In the build-up to this Test, the leader addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.

The squad delivered for him, reinstating the smile to his persona.

Emerging talents delivered with vital performances. These are small positives, certainly not enough to secure long-term success, but a starting point to develop from.

At the very least, this triumph is added to other memorable performances in meaningless games.

As the supporters departed into a stunning sunset, the team congregated on the outfield to start their own festivities.

Enjoy the drink, lads. It's well deserved.