'Are You Not Entertained?' The Reason a 48-Hour Test Remained Every Bit a Authentic Test.

In a glass case on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a vibrant pink outfit donned by the entertainer. His performance in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a major hit.

Perhaps you don't enjoy his music. You might think he is the ultimate present to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, acknowledging that some tracks are fantastic while others are terrible.

The key argument is that enjoyment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to craft art or even five-day cricket.

The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game

The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. It is hard to think of another sport where the outcome is so dependent on conditions.

The climate, the hour of play, the red ball – the factors are countless. Crucially is the pitch.

If the long game is an artistic pursuit, the wicket is the canvas on which the players craft their legacy.

A Broken-Down Battle: The MCG Match

The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the established format dismantled and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.

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

Allowing excessive grass on the wicket, causing a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.

A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket

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

The format is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and counting. At times, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the fast men. Sometimes, it turns square on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.

The thrillers are even more exciting because of the investment made in other matches.

Adjustment: The True Test

Some factors are tolerated more freely than others.

The contention in at the MCG was that the contest was tipped too far towards the bowlers. That the best players were hindered from showcasing their talents.

Test cricket is about finding solutions – interpreting the wicket and responding accordingly. The best individual contributions were made by acknowledged batters. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.

Sheer Celebration: The Supporters' View

Go and inform the fans who have suffered 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.

Among the crowd of the MCG, a sea of people made noise and created an atmosphere, producing a party atmosphere in a bastion of sport.

There was hope as the attack surged, advantage when batters fought back, and unconditional love when the victory was secured.

Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches

The venue has a history with difficult wickets. Previously, a match there featured a strip with the character of a a non-event.

That match was a slog, with few wickets and interminable tedium. This recent match and that drawn affair are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – both are not ideal, yet significance can be ascribed to both.

At this stage into the ongoing battle, it is the quick finishes that will live longest in the history books.

"Far from being the death of Test cricket at all," said a veteran. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been treated to some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."

Small Victories: Looking Ahead

In the lead-in to this Test, the leader spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.

The players delivered for him, restoring the smile to his face.

New faces delivered with vital performances. These are baby steps, hardly enough to secure long-term stability, but a foundation to develop from.

In the end, this MCG win joins other historic performances in dead rubbers.

As the crowd departed into a beautiful night, the team assembled on the outfield to commence their own celebrations.

Enjoy the drink, lads. This victory was hard-fought.