'Are You Not Entertained?' Why a 48-Hour Fixture Deserved Its Status as a Proper Cricket Test.

Within a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a vibrant pink ensemble donned by the pop star. The concert in front of a massive crowd of attendees was considered a success.

Perhaps you don't enjoy Robbie Williams. You might think he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. You might take a balanced view, conceding that some songs are fantastic while others are awful.

The point being is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is not a single method to craft literature or even Test cricket.

The Peerless Spectrum of Test Cricket

The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so reliant upon the environment.

The elements, the time of day, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Most important is the wicket.

If the long game is a form of art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the players paint their masterpiece.

A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test

The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the established format dismantled and stuck back together in abstract form.

Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the pitch which yielded a victory and the another short match of the series.

Allowing 10mm of grass on the wicket, resulting in numerous dismissals being taken in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.

A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket

But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be qualified as not a proper Test, is mistaken.

The long game is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and ongoing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball does all sorts for the pace bowlers. Sometimes, it turns square on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.

The close matches are all the more thrilling due to the investment devoted during quieter periods.

Problem Solving: The Real Challenge

Certain variables are tolerated more freely than others.

The debate in during the match was that the equilibrium was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were unable from demonstrating their skill.

This level of cricket is about adapting to challenges – assessing the wicket and adapting appropriately. The best individual contributions were made by world-class stars. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.

Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective

Attempt to convince the fans who have suffered years of defeat that this was not entertaining.

Among the crowd of the ground, thousands celebrated and created an atmosphere, generating a party atmosphere in a bastion of Australian cricket.

There was optimism as the bowlers excelled, impetus when batters responded, and rapturous celebration when the win was achieved.

Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches

The Melbourne has previous experience with pitch problems. Previously, a match there featured a pitch with all the life of a a damp squib.

That contest was a marathon, with limited drama and slow play. The latest encounter and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the scale – both are not ideal, yet value can be ascribed to them.

At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will be most remembered in the collective consciousness.

"Far from being the demise of Test cricket at all," observed a former player. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these 48 hours have been experienced some fantastic sport. Different entertainment."

Signs of Progress: Building for the Future

In the preparation to this match, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.

The squad delivered for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his countenance.

Different players stepped up with vital performances. These are small positives, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term futures, but a starting point to build on.

At the very least, this triumph is added to other memorable performances in meaningless games.

As the fans slipped away into a stunning sunset, the squad assembled on the field to begin their own enjoyment.

Savour the moment, boys. You've earned this one.