'Are You Not Entertained?' The Reason a Shortened Match Deserved Its Status as a Authentic Test Match.

In a showcase on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a vibrant pink outfit donned by Robbie Williams. The performance in front of 100,024 spectators was considered a major hit.

It's possible you appreciate the performer. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music known to man. You might take a middle ground, acknowledging that some tracks are fantastic while others are poor.

The point being is that entertainment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is no one way to produce music or even Test cricket.

The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket

Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dependent on the environment.

The elements, the time of day, the cricket ball – the list is endless. Most important is the wicket.

If the format is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the blank slate on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.

A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test

The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the established format broken apart and reconstructed in an unusual manner.

Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the wicket which resulted in a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.

Allowing a thick layer on the surface, causing 36 wickets being taken in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.

A Varied History: The Core of Test Cricket

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

The format is a rich tapestry, a long history and ongoing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. In contrast, it turns square on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.

The exciting finishes are even more exciting because of the patience committed elsewhere.

Adjustment: The Real Challenge

Certain variables are accepted more freely than others.

The argument in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the top batters were hindered from showcasing their talents.

This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the situation and adjusting appropriately. The two highest individual contributions were made by recognized stars. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.

Pure Elation: The Supporters' View

Go and inform the supporters who have experienced 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.

In one section of the stadium, thousands made noise and chanted, fostering a festive mood in a bastion of sport.

There was optimism as the fielding side surged, advantage when the top order fought back, and rapturous celebration when the result was achieved.

Polar Opposites: The Range of Test Matches

The venue has a history with difficult wickets. Previously, a Test there featured a pitch with the character of a a non-event.

That match was a marathon, with few wickets and interminable tedium. This recent match and that previous match are polar opposites of the spectrum – both are not the standard, yet value can be ascribed to both.

Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the history books.

"Far from being the death of the long game at all," said a veteran. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been treated to some real entertainment. A unique show."

Small Victories: Building for the Future

In the build-up to this match, the captain spoke like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.

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

New faces performed with crucial roles. These are baby steps, hardly enough to secure long-term futures, but a starting point to build on.

At the very least, this triumph is added to other historic performances in dead rubbers.

As the fans left into a beautiful night, the squad congregated on the field to start their own celebrations.

Enjoy the drink, men. This victory was hard-fought.