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

In a glass case on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground sits a neon pink outfit performed in by Robbie Williams. The concert in front of a hundred thousand fans was considered a major hit.

You might not appreciate Robbie Williams. You might think he is the finest offering to music in history. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, conceding that some hits are excellent while others are poor.

The key argument is that enjoyment can take many forms. You like what you like. There is not a single method to create music or even the longest format.

The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game

Test cricket boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on external factors.

The weather, the session, the red ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the pitch.

If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the strip is the canvas on which the players create their art.

A Test of Cubism: The Melbourne Spectacle

The recent Melbourne match between Australia and England was the game deconstructed, the established format broken apart and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.

This is not a endorsement of the pitch which produced a triumph and the second two-day Test of the series.

Allowing 10mm of grass on the surface, resulting in a cascade of wickets being taken in less than a brief period, is not a balanced duel between batter and bowler.

A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket

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

The long game is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and counting. At times, as witnessed recently, the ball moves excessively for the seamers. Other times, it spins sharply on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it bounces unevenly.

The thrillers are particularly captivating because of the investment made in other matches.

Problem Solving: The True Test

Certain variables are tolerated more readily than others.

The argument in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the best players were prevented from demonstrating their skill.

This level of cricket is about problem solving – assessing the conditions and adapting effectively. The two highest individual contributions were made by world-class stars. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.

Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited

Try telling the supporters who have endured a long drought that this lacked spectacle.

In a corner of the ground, a sea of people made noise and created an atmosphere, producing a party atmosphere in a heartland of national pride.

There was hope as the bowlers excelled, momentum when batters scored quickly, and unconditional love when the victory was confirmed.

Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches

The MCG has form with controversial surfaces. In the past, a match there featured a pitch with the character of a a damp squib.

That contest was a marathon, with minimal action and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that slow Test are extreme ends of the range – neither perfect, yet historical weight can be attached to both.

Four Tests into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the history books.

"It's not the demise of the long game at all," commented a veteran. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these two days have been treated to some fantastic sport. A unique show."

Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead

In the lead-in to this match, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.

The team delivered for him, reinstating the joy to his countenance.

New faces performed with crucial roles. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to secure long-term success, but something to develop from.

At the very least, this MCG win is added to other notable performances in meaningless games.

As the supporters departed into a beautiful night, the squad gathered on the outfield to start their own enjoyment.

Savour the moment, boys. It's well deserved.