'Are You Not Entertained?' Why a Two-Day Test Deserved Its Status as a Proper Test.

Displayed inside a glass case on the third floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a vibrant pink suit donned by the pop star. The show in front of 100,024 spectators was considered a major hit.

It's possible you appreciate his music. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. You might take a middle ground, admitting that some songs are fantastic while others are awful.

The central idea is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Preferences differ. There is no one way to create art or even the longest format.

The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket

The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on conditions.

The weather, the hour of play, the ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the pitch.

If Test cricket is a form of art, the strip is the canvas on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.

A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test

The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the great game broken apart and stuck back together in an unusual manner.

It must be stated this is not a defence of the surface which resulted in a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.

Leaving 10mm of grass on the pitch, resulting in 36 wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not an even battle between batter and bowler.

A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket

But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is incorrect.

Test cricket is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and counting. Sometimes, like in Melbourne, the ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.

The thrillers are even more exciting because of the time committed elsewhere.

Adjustment: The Real Challenge

Some factors are accepted more freely than others.

The argument in at the MCG was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were hindered from showcasing their talents.

The format is about finding solutions – assessing the wicket and adapting effectively. The two highest individual innings were made by recognized batters. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.

Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective

Attempt to convince the supporters who have suffered a long drought that this wasn't compelling.

In a corner of the stadium, countless fans waved their flags and chanted, producing a party atmosphere in a heartland of sport.

There was optimism as the fielding side excelled, momentum when batters responded, and rapturous celebration when the victory was secured.

Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches

The MCG has previous experience with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a match there featured a pitch with all the life of a a damp squib.

That fixture was a grind, with few wickets and endless boredom. The latest encounter and that slow Test are diametrically opposed points of the scale – one is not more ideal, yet value can be ascribed to them.

Deep into the series into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the collective consciousness.

"Far from being the end of the long game at all," commented a former player. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these two days have been experienced some genuine drama. A unique show."

Baby Steps: Looking Ahead

In the lead-in to this match, the leader talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.

The players responded for him, reinstating the smile to his face.

Emerging talents delivered with crucial roles. These are small positives, certainly not enough to ensure long-term stability, but something to use as a platform.

In the end, this MCG win is added to other notable performances in meaningless games.

As the supporters departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad gathered on the field to commence their own festivities.

Enjoy the drink, boys. You've earned this one.