'Are You Not Entertained?' Why a Shortened Fixture Remained Every Bit a Proper Test.

Displayed inside a glass case on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a vibrant pink suit worn by the entertainer. The concert in front of 100,024 fans was seen as a triumph.

Perhaps you don't like the performer. Maybe you feel he is the ultimate present to music in history. You might take a balanced view, conceding that some songs are fantastic while others are poor.

The central idea is that amusement can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to create music or even five-day cricket.

The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game

The five-day game boasts incomparable variety. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so reliant upon the environment.

The weather, the time of day, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Above all is the playing surface.

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 MCG Match

The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was Test cricket cubism, the great game broken apart and reconstructed in a bizarre shape.

It must be stated this is not a justification of the pitch which produced a win and the another short match of the series.

Having 10mm of grass on the pitch, leading to a cascade of wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not an even battle between bat and ball.

A Rich Tapestry: The Core of Test Cricket

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

Test cricket is a varied portfolio, over two thousand matches and still growing. On occasion, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball moves excessively for the fast men. Other times, it turns square on a spinning track. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it spits like a cobra.

The exciting finishes are even more exciting owing to the time committed during quieter periods.

Adaptation: The True Test

Some factors are tolerated more readily than others.

The contention in Melbourne was that the balance was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the skilled individuals were hindered from demonstrating their skill.

This level of cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the situation and adjusting appropriately. The two highest individual innings were made by recognized batters. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.

Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective

Try telling the fans who have experienced a long drought that this lacked spectacle.

Among the crowd of the MCG, thousands waved their flags and sang their songs, producing a festive mood in a heartland of Australian cricket.

There was optimism as the attack surged, impetus when players scored quickly, and unconditional love when the result was achieved.

Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches

The MCG has a history with controversial surfaces. Previously, a game there featured a strip with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.

That fixture was a marathon, with minimal action and slow play. The latest encounter and that slow Test are polar opposites of the scale – neither perfect, yet historical weight can be attached to them.

At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the history books.

"It's not the death of the format at all," said a former player. "The people who have been privileged to see these two days have been experienced some real entertainment. A unique show."

Signs of Progress: Building for the Future

In the build-up to this Test, the captain talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his back.

The team responded for him, restoring the joy to his countenance.

New faces delivered with key contributions. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to ensure long-term success, but something to use as a platform.

In the end, this MCG win joins other memorable performances in similar circumstances.

As the supporters departed into a stunning sunset, the players assembled on the turf to commence their own festivities.

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