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

Displayed inside a glass case on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is housed a neon pink suit performed in by the entertainer. His concert in front of 100,024 attendees was seen as a triumph.

You might not appreciate his music. You might think he is the finest offering to music in history. Or you could adopt a balanced view, admitting that some songs are fantastic while others are terrible.

The central idea is that enjoyment can manifest in countless ways. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to produce music or even Test cricket.

The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket

The five-day game boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on external factors.

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

If the long game is a form of art, the strip is the blank slate on which the athletes create their art.

An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle

The recent Melbourne match between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport dismantled and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.

It must be stated this is not a defence of the wicket which yielded a victory and the another short match of the series.

Having 10mm of grass on the wicket, leading to a cascade of wickets being taken in less than a brief period, is not an even battle between offense and defense.

A Diverse Legacy: The Nature of Test Cricket

But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is incorrect.

The format is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and counting. On occasion, as witnessed recently, the ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. Other times, it turns square on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.

The thrillers are even more exciting because of the investment committed elsewhere.

Adaptation: The Real Challenge

Some factors are embraced more freely than others.

The contention in at the MCG was that the contest was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the top batters were unable from showcasing their talents.

Test cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the wicket and adjusting effectively. The two highest individual scores were made by recognized stars. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.

Unbridled Joy: For Those Who Waited

Try telling the fans who have experienced years of defeat that this lacked spectacle.

Among the crowd of the MCG, countless fans made noise and sang their songs, fostering a carnival vibe in a heartland of sport.

There was hope as the fielding side dominated, momentum when the top order responded, and unconditional love when the victory was secured.

Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches

The MCG has previous experience with difficult wickets. Previously, a match there featured a wicket with the character of a a damp squib.

That fixture was a grind, with minimal action and slow play. The two-day game and that slow Test are polar opposites of the scale – one is not more perfect, yet historical weight can be found in both.

At this stage into the current series, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the memory.

"This isn't the end of the format at all," commented a former player. "The people who have been fortunate to see these short time have been treated to some fantastic sport. A unique show."

Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope

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

The team protected him, reinstating the smile to his face.

Emerging talents stepped up with crucial roles. These are small positives, certainly not enough to ensure long-term success, but something to build on.

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

As the supporters slipped away into a stunning sunset, the squad gathered on the turf to begin their own enjoyment.

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