“Oh my times!” I bear in mind where I was the very first time I heard that wonderful phrase – Roe Environmentally friendly Summer season Scheme, 1987 – and remember thinking at what age 1 could deploy it with legitimacy. Like the speaker, I was 8 several years-previous then, which helps make me 41 yrs-outdated now, so reckon I’m great to go. As these types of, oh – my – times.

The function of a preamble is to established up what is to occur, but in this case that’s presently been established by what is already been. Zak Crawley’s innings didn’t just close on a significant number, although it did, and did not just appear towards a superb attack, although it did. Relatively, it evidenced the craft, determination and temperament of a talent maturing into a player ahead of our eyes. Strauss, Greig, Stewart, Sutcliffe, Smith, Vaughan, Atherton, Cowdery, D’Oliveria and SJ Broad are but some of the legendary batsmen who hardly ever built a Check double century, and of the 695 folks to enjoy for England – Crawley being the most the latest – only nine have created much more in a single innings than his 267. Not terrible for 22 (but for how many consecutive meals can he consume ketchup sandwiches? Nicely then.)

Consequently, Pakistan are appropriate under the pump, ravaged very last night by England’s double-pronged assault of JM Anderson and SB Strain. And it’s challenging to see matters improving significantly above the future bit. Just 15 times ago, they ended up poised to go 1- up in the sequence, still at some point in the rapid long run, they’ll eliminate it 2-.

But when we assume back again in yet another 33 several years time, we won’t dwell on any of that, we’ll relive the achievement of Crawley – and Buttler, and Woakes – that nonetheless make us exclaim “Oh my complete times!” Or, set a different way, Examination cricket is alright.

Play: 11am BST