'Are You Not Entertained?' The Reason a 48-Hour Test Remained Every Bit a Genuine Cricket Test.

Displayed inside a glass case on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a neon pink suit worn by Robbie Williams. His performance in front of 100,024 fans was seen as a major hit.

You might not appreciate Robbie Williams. You might think he is the ultimate present to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, acknowledging that some tracks are belting while others are poor.

The central idea is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no one way to create art or even Test cricket.

The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket

Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by the environment.

The climate, the time of day, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the wicket.

If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the foundation on which the cricketers create their art.

A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle

The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the great game broken apart and stuck back together in an unusual manner.

Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the wicket which produced a victory and the another short match of the Ashes battle.

Having a thick layer on the pitch, resulting in 36 wickets being taken in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.

A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket

But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is mistaken.

The format is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and still growing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the fast men. In contrast, it spins sharply on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.

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

Problem Solving: The Real Challenge

Certain variables are embraced more easily than others.

The debate in during the match was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were hindered from showcasing their talents.

Test cricket is about problem solving – reading the wicket and responding effectively. The best individual innings were made by world-class batters. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.

Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View

Attempt to convince the devotees who have suffered 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.

Among the crowd of the stadium, countless fans made noise and sang their songs, generating a party atmosphere in a stronghold of sport.

There was hope as the attack dominated, momentum when the top order responded, and unconditional love when the win was secured.

Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches

The venue has previous experience with difficult wickets. In the past, a game there featured a strip with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.

That fixture was a grind, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the range – one is not more ideal, yet significance can be found in them.

Deep into the series into the current series, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the collective consciousness.

"It's not the demise of the format at all," commented a past champion. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these short time have been experienced some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."

Baby Steps: Building for the Future

In the preparation to this Test, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.

The team delivered for him, restoring the positive demeanor to his persona.

Different players performed with vital performances. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a foundation to build on.

At the very least, this MCG win takes its place among other memorable performances in similar circumstances.

As the supporters slipped away into a stunning sunset, the team assembled on the outfield to start their own festivities.

Savour the moment, boys. You've earned this one.