'Are You Not Entertained?' Why a Two-Day Fixture Was No Less a Proper Test.

Within a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a vibrant pink ensemble worn by the pop star. The concert in front of a massive crowd of attendees was seen as a major hit.

You might not like the performer. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Or you could adopt a middle ground, conceding that some songs are belting while others are terrible.

The key argument is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is no universal formula to craft art or even Test cricket.

The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game

The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on the environment.

The elements, the time of day, the ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the playing surface.

If the format is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the foundation on which the athletes craft their legacy.

An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle

The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the established format dismantled and stuck back together in abstract form.

It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the pitch which produced a triumph and the another short match of the series.

Having a thick layer on the wicket, resulting in numerous dismissals falling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.

A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket

But any notion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.

The long game is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and ongoing. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the seamers. Other times, it spins sharply on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it bounces unevenly.

The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling because of the time committed elsewhere.

Adaptation: The Core Skill

Specific conditions are embraced more readily than others.

The contention in Melbourne was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the top batters were hindered from playing their natural game.

This level of cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the conditions and responding appropriately. The two highest individual contributions were made by world-class stars. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.

Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited

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

Among the crowd of the stadium, countless fans made noise and sang their songs, fostering a carnival vibe in a heartland of sport.

There was hope as the attack dominated, momentum when the top order scored quickly, and pure joy when the victory was secured.

Extreme Ends: The Variety of Test Matches

The MCG has a history with pitch problems. Previously, a game there featured a strip with the excitement of a a damp squib.

That match was a grind, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that previous match are polar opposites of the range – neither the standard, yet significance can be found in each.

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

"This isn't the end of the format at all," commented a veteran. "Fans who have been privileged to see these two days have been given some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."

Small Victories: Looking Ahead

In the build-up to this match, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.

The squad delivered for him, bringing back the joy to his persona.

Different players performed with key contributions. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a foundation to build on.

Ultimately, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other memorable performances in similar circumstances.

As the crowd left into a beautiful night, the team gathered on the outfield to start their own festivities.

Celebrate the win, lads. It's well deserved.