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

Within a showcase on the elevated floor of the MCG is housed a vibrant pink outfit worn by the pop star. His concert in front of a massive crowd of spectators was seen as a triumph.

Perhaps you don't like the performer. You might think he is the greatest gift to music in history. Or you could adopt a middle ground, acknowledging that some songs are belting while others are terrible.

The key argument is that amusement can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is not a single method to craft music or even the longest format.

The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket

Test cricket boasts incomparable variety. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on external factors.

The weather, the time of day, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Above all is the playing surface.

If the format is a form of art, the wicket is the foundation on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.

A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle

The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the great game taken to pieces and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.

Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the pitch which yielded a triumph and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.

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

A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket

But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.

The long game is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and counting. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the ball moves excessively for the fast men. Other times, it grips and turns on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.

The thrillers are all the more thrilling owing to the patience made elsewhere.

Adaptation: The Core Skill

Some factors are embraced more readily than others.

The argument in at the MCG was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the top batters were unable from showcasing their talents.

The format is about problem solving – interpreting the wicket and adapting effectively. The two highest individual innings were made by acknowledged stars. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.

Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View

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

In a corner of the stadium, a sea of people made noise and sang their songs, generating a carnival vibe in a heartland of Australian cricket.

There was belief as the fielding side excelled, advantage when batters scored quickly, and pure joy when the result was confirmed.

Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches

The Melbourne has a history with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a wicket with the character of a a non-event.

That contest was a grind, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that previous match are polar opposites of the spectrum – 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 history books.

"This isn't the demise of the long game at all," observed a past champion. "The people who have been fortunate to see these short time have been treated to some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."

Baby Steps: A Glimmer of Hope

In the build-up to this match, the leader spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.

The team delivered for him, reinstating the joy to his persona.

Different players delivered with key contributions. These are incremental gains, not nearly enough to ensure long-term success, but a starting point to use as a platform.

At the very least, this MCG win is added to other notable performances in dead rubbers.

As the crowd left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the team assembled on the turf to start their own enjoyment.

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