Shortly after lunch a squadron of minature zeppelins took to the air from within the great southern stand. They drifted over the heads of the crowd who willed them on their way with prods and pushes, until one by one they would catch a wind drift and float out over the ground. Once over the open terrain they would lose altitude rapidly, and upon touching the grass burst, leaving a small spread of debris. The fieldsmen were never in danger, though it may have seemed as though they were under some strange attack.

Yousuf Youhana was magnificent, he took on the captaincy of his beleagured side and took supreme command with the bat. His innings was carefully fought, he was patient and solid and when Warne tossed it up just that little bit too far he would send him straight back over his head into the stands. Six after six, Warne’s deliveries ended up in the stand directly behind him. Warne was totally dominated. Salman dominated him from the outset and Yousuf took the domination to a commanding pinnacle. Pakistan had learnt from their mistakes in Perth and it seemed had also learnt from watching Justin bat there. The timing off the attacks was precise and carried no risk. It was wonderful to see.

But the highlight of the day was the 15 minute long period immediately following tea. Every Australian player lay upon the ground sleeping. The batsmen sat together and chatted. McGrath was flat on his back with his hat over his face. Marto lay there propped up on his elbows as though he were posing for a calendar. Gilchrist and Lehmann lay close together behind the stumps. Someone, probably Hayden, lay spreadeagled out towards point. Once the sightscreen attendants finally managed to turn the screen’s panels to white Warne woke McGrath up by throwing the ball at him and some action commenced. It was a beautiful session.

Can’t you see this as a still from a Miyazaki film?

And just when you never want it to end, it all begins again tomorrow, the test set up for a real showdown.