Ben Stokes continued to turn Test cricket on its head with bold plans and tactics that could lead to the most stunning of wins… or a record-breaking loss.
But even if Pakistan overhaul their generous target of 343, or are left batting out for a draw at the close then the England skipper can be satisfied that he and his team delivered five days of entertainment and backed up their words with action to try and win on a surface that has done its best to nullify every bowler on show.
By the time the two teams walked off on day four, the game remained absolutely in the balance with the home side 80-2, requiring a further 263 from the final day. Whatever the outcome on day five of this historic Test match, the repercussions for the game could be seismic, because Stokes has shown that imagination can be the lifeblood of sporting glory.
No other captain has embodied the words of the late Shane Warne more, when he would declare “sometimes you’ve got to be prepared to lose to win.” The only reason every result is possible on the final day is because of the way Stokes has managed this game.
And even if his side become the first ever in first-class and Test history to lose having scored as many as 657 in their first innings, he won’t worry a jot, because he and Brendon McCullum are on a mission that is bigger than one match.
“There is no shame in losing a cricket match,” said assistant coach Paul Collingwood. “It's been pretty clear right from the start that we're willing to lose games for the sake of putting ourselves in a position to win them.
“Some might say it's an early declaration. We'll see. If we can force a result on this kind of pitch it is an unbelievable effort. I think it is absolutely magnificent in terms of the bigger picture. Baz and Ben are like pioneers already with how they are going about playing the game.
“Sometimes I think it is crazy. In a good way rather than a negative way. I know full well I would never have come up with these ideas. We are going against convention and when it comes off it is genius.”
An example of that genius might be the sight of Joe Root taking guard and batting left-handed in a Test match. It almost cost him his wicket, but he survived as he made a sparkling 73 from just 69 balls.
Zak Crawley added another 50 to his first innings ton, while Ben Duckett felt the other side of the coin with a first ball duck to go with his. Harry Brook was again the standout performer though, striking a powerful 87 from just 65 balls that powered England towards their declaration.
Will Jacks had earlier wrapped up the Pakistan first innings to finish with 6-161, the best debut figures for an England spinner since Peter Such in 1993. In the second innings Ollie Robinson and Stokes took the new ball and bowled exclusively short with the field set back.
No doubt to the horror of some, but it worked with two wickets falling to the tactic, including Pakistani skipper and talisman Babar Azam. With Azhar Ali retiring hurt with a damaged finger, England are making sure any result will have to be hard fought.
