'Are You Not Entertained?' The Reason a Shortened Match Remained Every Bit a Authentic Cricket Test.

In a glass case on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium sits a electric pink outfit performed in by the entertainer. The performance in front of a massive crowd of spectators was hailed as a major hit.

It's possible you enjoy the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music in history. Or you could adopt a reasonable stance, acknowledging that some hits are excellent while others are poor.

The point being is that entertainment can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is not a single method to craft art or even the longest format.

The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket

The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the outcome is so dictated by external factors.

The weather, the session, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the pitch.

If the format is art, the strip is the blank slate on which the players craft their legacy.

An Abstract Contest: The MCG Match

The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport broken apart and reconstructed in an unusual manner.

It must be stated this is not a endorsement of the wicket which resulted in a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the Ashes battle.

Leaving excessive grass on the pitch, resulting in numerous dismissals falling in less than two days, is not an even battle between bat and ball.

A Rich Tapestry: The Essence of Test Cricket

But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is wide of the mark.

Test cricket is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and still growing. At times, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball does all sorts for the fast men. In contrast, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.

The close matches are all the more thrilling due to the time committed elsewhere.

Adjustment: The Real Challenge

Certain variables are accepted more freely than others.

The debate in at the MCG was that the balance was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the top batters were unable from playing their natural game.

Test cricket is about finding solutions – reading the wicket and responding accordingly. The best individual innings were made by acknowledged players. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.

Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited

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

In a corner of the MCG, thousands celebrated and created an atmosphere, fostering a party atmosphere in a stronghold of national pride.

There was belief as the attack excelled, advantage when batters responded, and unconditional love when the result was achieved.

Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches

The venue has a history with controversial surfaces. In the past, a match there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a non-event.

That contest was a grind, with minimal action and interminable tedium. This recent match and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – one is not more ideal, yet significance can be attached to each.

At this stage into the current series, it is the two-day matches that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.

"This isn't the end of the long game at all," observed a former player. "The people who have been fortunate to see these short time have been treated to some genuine drama. A unique show."

Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope

In the lead-in to this Test, the leader spoke like a man carrying the heavy burden on his shoulders.

The team delivered for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his face.

Different players stepped up with vital performances. These are small positives, hardly enough to guarantee long-term success, but a starting point to develop from.

Ultimately, this triumph takes its place among other memorable performances in dead rubbers.

As the fans departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad gathered on the turf to commence their own celebrations.

Enjoy the drink, men. It's well deserved.