'Are You Not Entertained?' The Reason a Shortened Fixture Remained Every Bit a Proper Cricket Test.

In a glass case on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a neon pink outfit donned by Robbie Williams. The concert in front of 100,024 spectators was seen as a success.

Perhaps you don't appreciate his music. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, acknowledging that some tracks are excellent while others are awful.

The key argument is that entertainment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no one way to produce music or even five-day cricket.

The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket

The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by external factors.

The weather, the hour of play, the red ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the wicket.

If the long game is a form of art, the wicket is the foundation on which the players paint their masterpiece.

An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test

The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the great game broken apart and reconstructed in abstract form.

It must be stated this is not a justification of the pitch which yielded a victory and the second two-day Test of the Ashes battle.

Leaving excessive grass on the surface, leading to numerous dismissals falling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.

A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket

But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is incorrect.

The long game is a varied portfolio, a long history and counting. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it turns square on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.

The close matches are all the more thrilling due to the time made during quieter periods.

Adjustment: The Real Challenge

Some factors are embraced more readily than others.

The contention in Melbourne was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were hindered from demonstrating their skill.

Test cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the conditions and adjusting accordingly. The best individual scores were made by recognized stars. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.

Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View

Attempt to convince the devotees who have suffered years of defeat that this was not entertaining.

Among the crowd of the MCG, thousands celebrated and chanted, fostering a carnival vibe in a heartland of sport.

There was optimism as the attack surged, impetus when batters responded, and pure joy when the win was achieved.

Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches

The Melbourne has previous experience with pitch problems. Previously, a Test there featured a wicket with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.

That fixture was a marathon, with minimal action and slow play. The latest encounter and that slow Test are extreme ends of the range – one is not more perfect, yet significance can be ascribed to both.

Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.

"Far from being the end of Test cricket at all," said a veteran. "Spectators who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been treated to some fantastic sport. A unique show."

Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope

In the lead-in to this Test, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.

The squad responded for him, restoring the joy to his countenance.

Different players performed with vital performances. These are small positives, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a foundation to use as a platform.

In the end, this MCG win takes its place among other notable performances in dead rubbers.

As the supporters slipped away into a beautiful night, the squad congregated on the turf to commence their own celebrations.

Savour the moment, men. This victory was hard-fought.