There is a beauty in longevity.
It’s what the supporters of English cricket find so captivating about the Test format, and why - so often - they pack every arena to the rafters to see those unmistakable white threads come rain or shine.
What unfolded at the half-way mark of England’s battle with West Indies at Trent Bridge epitomised why Test cricket continues to be so avidly sought after on our shores - there is always time for another twist, another turn in fortunes, another story to be told.
Success in the five-day game demands dedication, resilience and drive in abundance.
Fittingly, therefore, we began day three celebrating a lifetime of servitude by an individual who has become truly part of the furniture in our hallowed halls, and who has dedicated his entire adult life to the sport.
Graham Marson has been a member of the stewarding team since a boy, a 16-year-old whose wage then consisted merely of a bacon cob and a cold pint. As he rang the five-minute bell today - with a tear in his eye and his family beside him - Graham celebrated a staggering 60th year of service to our club.
Should Ben Stokes’ England need a reminder of what passion and commitment look like, they need look no further than the gentleman stood by the Pavilion doors.
And perhaps it did just the trick. 13 dot balls and one boundary into the day’s proceedings, England found the breakthrough they were desperate for. A third 50-run partnership for the tourists was broken by a persistent Chris Woakes, feathered by Jason Holder into the grateful gloves of Jamie Smith as a majority of the 17,000 in attendance cheered with sigh of relief upon Woakes’ 1000th career wicket on his 50th Test appearence.
The energy from the stands translated onto the field. Gus Atkinson soon followed up with a second early wicket as Harry Brook claimed the catch in the slips to see the back of Sinclair.
Then Woakes doubled down on his day three dominance in the 99th over to turn the screw even more; Smith gobbled up his second catch of the day to dismiss Alzarri Joseph, and the delivery of the day came immediately after as bails went flying behind a frozen Jayden Seales, leaving the punters to purr at the highlight of the morning session.
But, as is the lesson of Test cricket, you can never be certain as to when, where or how the next twist will take form.
Just as the visitors looked to be heading into the third innings with a deficit, the pair in the middle - Shamar Joseph and Joshua Da Silva - had other ideas. Facing 78 balls, the duo added West Indies’ second most important partnership of the innings as they clawed their way into the lead.
The pair turned on the style before their resistance could finally be severed, the former launching a maximum into, or rather onto, the Larwood and Voce Stand - dislodging a roof tile in the process - before the latter lashed four consecutive boundaries as the tourists posted 457 and a lead of 41. At the arrival of a late lunch, the second Test appeared on a knife’s edge.
More drama was yet to come. Zak Crawley again was the victim of an early exit as Ben Duckett's straight drive found the fingertips of Jayden Seals then the stumps, with the rangey opener short of his ground.
With the very next ball, Ollie Pope experienced an equipment malfunction, a sizeable chunk at the bottom of his bat splintered apart by a full delivery from Alzarri Joseph - the glorious quirks of this game.
But England’s batters were just as resilient as their counterparts on another absorbing day of Test action. Home hero Duckett tallied his second fifty of the contest - again falling in the 70s - while Pope and Brook all played their part with half-tons to their name, the latter forming a resolute 100-run stand with Joe Root.
With two days remaining, this contest’s victor is near impossible to predict. Such is the beauty of Test cricket, where the long game leaves everything in the realm of possibility.