'Are You Not Entertained?' The Reason a Shortened Fixture Was No Less a Proper Test.

Within a glass case on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a neon pink outfit worn by Robbie Williams. The concert in front of 100,024 fans was seen as a triumph.

You might not enjoy his music. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. Or you could adopt a balanced view, admitting that some tracks are belting while others are poor.

The key argument is that entertainment can be delivered diversely. Tastes vary. There is no one way to craft literature or even Test cricket.

The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game

The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon conditions.

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

If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the foundation on which the players paint their masterpiece.

A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle

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.

Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the wicket which yielded a win and the second two-day Test of the contest.

Leaving excessive grass on the wicket, resulting in a cascade of wickets being taken in less than two days, is not an even battle between offense and defense.

A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket

But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be footnoted as illegitimate, is mistaken.

The long game is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and ongoing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the seamers. Other times, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.

The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling due to the time committed during quieter periods.

Adjustment: The Core Skill

Specific conditions are accepted more readily than others.

The debate in Melbourne was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the bowlers. That the best players were prevented from showcasing their talents.

Test cricket is about finding solutions – reading the conditions and responding appropriately. The best individual innings were made by recognized players. One team was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.

Pure Elation: The Supporters' View

Try telling the fans who have suffered 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.

In one section of the stadium, thousands waved their flags and chanted, generating a carnival vibe in a stronghold of sport.

There was hope as the fielding side dominated, impetus when the top order responded, and unconditional love when the win was confirmed.

Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches

The MCG has form with pitch problems. Previously, a game there featured a wicket with the character of a a damp squib.

That fixture was a grind, with limited drama and slow play. The latest encounter and that previous match are extreme ends of the range – neither the standard, yet historical weight can be ascribed to each.

Four Tests into the current series, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.

"This isn't the end of the format at all," observed a veteran. "Fans who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been experienced some genuine drama. Different entertainment."

Signs of Progress: Building for the Future

In the lead-in to this match, the captain talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.

The squad delivered for him, reinstating the smile to his persona.

Different players stepped up with vital performances. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to ensure long-term success, but something to use as a platform.

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

As the crowd slipped away into a beautiful night, the team gathered on the field to begin their own enjoyment.

Celebrate the win, boys. This victory was hard-fought.