'Are You Not Entertained?' Why a Two-Day Match Was No Less a Genuine Cricket Test.

Within a glass case on the elevated floor of the iconic Melbourne stadium is housed a neon pink ensemble worn by Robbie Williams. His concert in front of 100,024 attendees was hailed as a major hit.

It's possible you enjoy the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the greatest gift to music in history. Or you could adopt a balanced view, admitting that some songs are fantastic while others are awful.

The central idea is that enjoyment can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to produce literature or even Test cricket.

The Unrivalled Depth of The Long Game

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

The elements, the time of day, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Most important is the pitch.

If the format is a form of art, the wicket is the foundation on which the players paint their masterpiece.

A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test

The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the established format taken to pieces and reassembled in a bizarre shape.

Let's be clear, this isn't a endorsement of the surface which produced a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the series.

Leaving excessive grass on the pitch, leading to numerous dismissals tumbling in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.

A Varied History: The Nature of Test Cricket

But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is incorrect.

The format is a diverse canvas, over two thousand matches and ongoing. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.

The close matches are particularly captivating due to the patience committed during quieter periods.

Problem Solving: The True Test

Some factors are embraced more freely than others.

The contention in during the match was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the best players were prevented from demonstrating their skill.

Test cricket is about finding solutions – reading the wicket and adjusting accordingly. The two highest individual contributions were made by world-class stars. One team made more mistakes than the other, and thus ended up second best.

Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited

Attempt to convince the supporters who have endured a long drought that this wasn't compelling.

In a corner of the stadium, thousands made noise and created an atmosphere, producing a party atmosphere in a bastion of sport.

There was optimism as the bowlers excelled, impetus when the top order responded, and rapturous celebration when the result was achieved.

Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches

The venue has previous experience with pitch problems. In the past, a game there featured a wicket with the excitement of a a non-event.

That contest was a marathon, with few wickets and slow play. The two-day game and that slow Test are extreme ends of the spectrum – one is not more perfect, yet historical weight can be found in each.

At this stage into the current series, it is the shortest games that will remain iconic in the collective consciousness.

"Far from being the demise of Test cricket at all," said a past champion. "The people who have been fortunate to see these short time have been given some genuine drama. A unique show."

Small Victories: Looking Ahead

In the preparation to this Test, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his mind.

The players responded for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his countenance.

Different players delivered with key contributions. These are small positives, hardly enough to ensure long-term stability, but something to use as a platform.

At the very least, this triumph joins other notable performances in similar circumstances.

As the supporters departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players assembled on the turf to commence their own festivities.

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