IT IS sometimes easy to think that cricket is a sport best enjoyed with your head buried in record books while the game goes on in front of you.
Joe Root and James Anderson's glorious last wicket partnership of 198 sent anoraks scurrying through the annals, but what meant just as much was not the statistics they shattered.
Like opening a Christmas present you fear is shower gel but turns out to be the only thing you wanted, this was about unexpected delight, as well being able to say you were there of course.
Those walking into Trent Bridge might not have anticipated too much based on what has gone before in this first Test. Maybe a swift English swish of the bat and then a day of efficient Indian batting?
How wrong they were. There might have only been four wickets in the day and it might well end in a draw, but the 17,000 crowd rose to their feet more often than Hollywood royalty at the Oscars as they heralded landmark after landmark, record after record in the morning.
Anderson eventually went for 81 shortly after lunch, England's 496 giving them a lead of 39 with Root unbeaten on 154. India were drained after having their opponents by the throat at 298 for nine on day three.
Suddenly they were a modicum of pressure to make sure they didn't concertina. They didn't for the most. Shikhar Dharwan went for 29 before Murali Vijay lost concentration to go for 52, both to poor shots to Moeen Ali.
Cheteshwar Pujara followed the ball after Vijay for 55 to give England a slim hope of winning as India closed on 167 for three, an advantage of 128 going into the final day.
Before the late Indian wickets the vocal fans basked in seeing Root reach his hundred having been on 50 when Anderson reached the crease. Then they put on the hundred partnership, making this the first ever Test when both teams have added century partnerships for the last wicket.
There was another roar when Anderson reached 50, his highest score in any form of cricket. How his mood must have contrasted from Headingley, where his was the last wicket to fall in the penultimate ball defeat to Sri Lanka when he shed tears. Soon after he reached 60, the highest score ever by an England number 11.
The crowd were probably so raucous because they all expected it to end soon, but on they went as India's frustration levels were turned up to 11.
The highest ever partnership by England for the 10th wicket? Gone. The 10th wicket record for Test cricket itself? Gone.
A year and a day on after Nottingham saw Ashton Agar and Phil Hughes share 163 for Australia, the crowd swapped begrudging applause for another standing ovation as their last wicket world record was passed.
It was almost easy to forget the state of the game itself, but suddenly England led. Between balls there was a low buzz about the ground – Trent Bridge was a hive of interest.
Spectators would remember what they saw forever as they let out a chorus of 'Roooot' in honour of Joe when the players left for a delayed lunch.
Nothing had worked for India as this often criticised tame pitch worked in the hosts' favour at last. India were losing their cool when Ishant Sharma and Root had a strong exchange of views after an appeal was turned down straight after Root reached 150. He missed the ball.
Anderson didn't miss it though when he finally edged Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Dharwan in the slips. He promptly raced off, acknowledging but not revelling in the wild applause of the crowd. He had work to do.
It was fitting that Anderson enjoyed batting success at Trent Bridge considering he has had so much joy there with the ball, taking 51 Test wickets there.
He could not add to those though. Dharwan went when he fired a low full toss straight back to Moeen.
At 49 for one England might have just fancied their chances, but Vijay, missed by Matt Prior on four, and Pujara put on 91 before two late wickets gave the hosts just a sniff again.
Vijay was caught behind off a shot so rash he was also stumped. From the next ball Pujara was caught by Ben Stokes at the second attempt off Liam Plunkett. Virat Kohli, on eight, and Ajinkya Rahane, on 18, must look to eliminate that last ray of English hope of victory.
