'Are You Not Entertained?' Why a 48-Hour Fixture Was No Less a Proper Test Match.

Displayed inside a showcase on the elevated floor of the MCG is housed a neon pink suit worn by the pop star. The performance in front of 100,024 fans was seen as a major hit.

You might not enjoy his music. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music in history. Or you could adopt a middle ground, acknowledging that some hits are excellent while others are poor.

The point being is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no one way to create art or even Test cricket.

The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game

Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon conditions.

The weather, the session, the ball – the list is endless. Most important is the wicket.

If the long game is art, the pitch is the canvas on which the players craft their legacy.

A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test

The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport dismantled and reassembled in an unusual manner.

Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the surface which resulted in a triumph and the another short match of the Ashes battle.

Having excessive grass on the surface, resulting in a cascade of wickets falling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.

A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket

But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as not a proper Test, is incorrect.

The long game is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and counting. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the ball moves excessively for the seamers. In contrast, it turns square on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.

The close matches are particularly captivating owing to the patience made elsewhere.

Adjustment: The True Test

Some factors are tolerated more readily than others.

The debate in Melbourne was that the contest was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the best players were unable from demonstrating their skill.

This level of cricket is about finding solutions – reading the conditions and responding accordingly. The best individual innings were made by recognized stars. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.

Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited

Go and inform the devotees who have experienced 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.

In a corner of the stadium, thousands celebrated and chanted, generating a party atmosphere in a stronghold of national pride.

There was belief as the fielding side excelled, momentum when the top order responded, and unconditional love when the victory was confirmed.

Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches

The MCG has a history with controversial surfaces. Previously, a Test there featured a pitch with the character of a a damp squib.

That match was a marathon, with minimal action and interminable tedium. This recent match and that slow Test are polar opposites of the spectrum – both are not perfect, yet value can be attached to each.

Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the history books.

"Far from being the end of Test cricket at all," said a former player. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these two days have been experienced some real entertainment. A unique show."

Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead

In the preparation to this match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.

The players protected him, bringing back the smile to his countenance.

New faces delivered with crucial roles. These are small positives, not nearly enough to ensure long-term stability, but a foundation to use as a platform.

At the very least, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other historic performances in similar circumstances.

As the supporters departed into a beautiful night, the squad congregated on the field to begin their own celebrations.

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