'Are You Not Entertained?' Why a 48-Hour Match Remained Every Bit a Proper Cricket Test.

Displayed inside a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a vibrant pink outfit donned by the entertainer. His show in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a triumph.

It's possible you appreciate Robbie Williams. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. You might take a balanced view, conceding that some hits are fantastic while others are poor.

The central idea is that enjoyment can be delivered diversely. You like what you like. There is not a single method to produce art or even five-day cricket.

The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format

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

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

If the format is art, the strip is the foundation on which the athletes create their art.

An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match

The Boxing Day fixture between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport broken apart and reassembled in abstract form.

It must be stated this is not a justification of the pitch which resulted in a win and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.

Having a thick layer on the pitch, causing numerous dismissals being taken in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between offense and defense.

A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket

But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is wide of the mark.

The format is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and ongoing. At times, as witnessed recently, the ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.

The thrillers are even more exciting due to the time made elsewhere.

Adaptation: The Core Skill

Some factors are accepted more freely than others.

The contention in during the match was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the best players were unable from playing their natural game.

This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the wicket and responding effectively. The top two individual innings were made by world-class players. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus ended up second best.

Unbridled Joy: The Fan Perspective

Attempt to convince the supporters who have suffered 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.

In a corner of the stadium, thousands celebrated and chanted, producing a party atmosphere in a heartland of Australian cricket.

There was hope as the fielding side dominated, impetus when the top order responded, and rapturous celebration when the result was achieved.

Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches

The venue has a history with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a game there featured a wicket with all the life of a a damp squib.

That match was a slog, with limited drama and slow play. This recent match and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the spectrum – one is not more the standard, yet value can be found in both.

Deep into the series into the current series, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the history books.

"This isn't the end of Test cricket at all," said a former player. "The people who have been privileged to see these two days have been treated to some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."

Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope

In the preparation to this Test, the leader talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.

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

New faces delivered with key contributions. These are small positives, not nearly enough to secure long-term stability, but a starting point to develop from.

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

As the crowd left into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad assembled on the field to begin their own enjoyment.

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