'Are You Not Entertained?' Why a Shortened Match Was No Less a Genuine Test Match.

Within a showcase on the third floor of the MCG sits a electric pink suit donned by the entertainer. His concert in front of a massive crowd of spectators was hailed as a success.

Perhaps you don't enjoy his music. You might think he is the finest offering to music known to man. You might take a middle ground, conceding that some tracks are belting while others are awful.

The point being is that entertainment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to create art or even the longest format.

The Incomparable Variety of Test Cricket

The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by conditions.

The weather, the session, the red ball – the list is endless. Above all is the pitch.

If Test cricket is an artistic pursuit, the pitch is the foundation on which the athletes craft their legacy.

A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle

The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the traditional sport broken apart and reconstructed in an unusual manner.

This is not a endorsement of the pitch which produced a triumph and the another short match of the series.

Allowing a thick layer on the wicket, resulting in 36 wickets being taken in less than six sessions, is not a fair contest between batter and bowler.

A Diverse Legacy: The Core of Test Cricket

But any idea this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as illegitimate, is wide of the mark.

Test cricket is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and ongoing. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball moves excessively for the pace bowlers. Other times, it turns square on a dry surface. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.

The exciting finishes are particularly captivating due to the time committed elsewhere.

Adaptation: The Real Challenge

Some factors are embraced more readily than others.

The contention in at the MCG was that the contest was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the top batters were hindered from playing their natural game.

This level of cricket is about problem solving – interpreting the situation and responding effectively. The top two individual scores were made by world-class batters. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus were defeated.

Unbridled Joy: The Supporters' View

Attempt to convince the supporters who have experienced 18 winless matches that this was not entertaining.

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

There was optimism as the fielding side dominated, impetus when batters responded, and rapturous celebration when the victory was confirmed.

Polar Opposites: The Variety of Test Matches

The MCG has form with controversial surfaces. Previously, a game there featured a strip with the excitement of a a damp squib.

That match was a slog, with few wickets and interminable tedium. The latest encounter and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – one is not more perfect, 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," observed a past champion. "The people who have been lucky enough to see these short time have been experienced some fantastic sport. An unusual spectacle."

Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead

In the build-up to this match, the skipper spoke like a man carrying the weight of the world on his mind.

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

Emerging talents delivered with vital performances. These are small positives, hardly enough to ensure long-term success, but a foundation to build on.

At the very least, this MCG win joins other historic performances in dead rubbers.

As the fans departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players gathered on the field to start their own enjoyment.

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