'Did It Not Captivate?' Why a 48-Hour Match Was No Less a Genuine Cricket Test.

In a display cabinet on the third floor of the MCG rests a electric pink ensemble donned by the pop star. His show in front of a massive crowd of spectators was hailed as a major hit.

Perhaps you don't like his music. You might think he is the finest offering to music in history. You might take a reasonable stance, admitting that some hits are fantastic while others are terrible.

The key argument is that entertainment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to produce art or even the longest format.

The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket

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

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

If the format is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the canvas on which the athletes paint their masterpiece.

An Abstract Contest: The Fourth Test

The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was Test cricket cubism, the great game broken apart and reconstructed in an unusual manner.

This is not a defence of the surface which yielded a triumph and the another short match of the series.

Having 10mm of grass on the pitch, resulting in numerous dismissals falling in less than two days, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.

A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket

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

Test cricket is a diverse canvas, 2,615 parts and still growing. At times, like in Melbourne, the ball behaves unpredictably for the pace bowlers. In contrast, it turns square on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.

The thrillers are even more exciting because of the investment devoted during quieter periods.

Adaptation: The Real Challenge

Some factors are accepted more readily than others.

The debate in Melbourne was that the balance was tipped too far towards the fielding side. That the top batters were hindered from demonstrating their skill.

The format is about finding solutions – reading the wicket and adapting effectively. The two highest individual innings were made by recognized stars. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.

Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View

Try telling the supporters who have suffered a long drought that this was not entertaining.

In a corner of the stadium, thousands waved their flags and chanted, producing a festive mood in a stronghold of national pride.

There was optimism as the attack dominated, impetus when players scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the win was confirmed.

Contrasting Examples: The Spectrum of Test Matches

The venue has a history with controversial surfaces. Previously, a Test there featured a strip with the excitement of a a damp squib.

That match was a slog, with limited drama and interminable tedium. The two-day game and that slow Test are extreme ends of the range – one is not more ideal, yet historical weight can be ascribed to each.

Four Tests into the ongoing battle, it is the two-day matches that will live longest in the memory.

"This isn't the demise of Test cricket at all," commented a veteran. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these two days have been given some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."

Small Victories: Building for the Future

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

The team responded for him, reinstating the smile to his countenance.

Different players performed with crucial roles. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to ensure long-term stability, but a starting point to use as a platform.

Ultimately, this Melbourne victory takes its place among other historic performances in similar circumstances.

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

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