To say there is something just a little bit odd about the fifth day of a Test match is like saying Donald Trump is just a little bit of a boofhead.
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Imagine a comedy night where packed houses turn up to hear “Knock, knock” and “Who's there?”, start to drift away when it comes to the “England and Australia” and “England and Australia who?” bits and then lose virtually all interest when the punchline gets delivered.
But, traditionally, this is how crowds view cricket Test matches.
And however dismal the attendance on the final day when the result is determined, another packed house is waiting when the series resumes a few days and time zones later.
Day five of the Second Test at the Adelaide Oval bucked the trend a little.
For a start it was a day-night affair beginning at 2pm, it also happened to be a sumptuously balmy sunny day and it helped considerably that the contest was reasonably well balanced.
So beneath the exaggerated blue and green of Adelaide's skies and grass, 20,098 spectators made the pilgrimage.
Even in the city of churches there could be no better place to worship.
It might not have the capacity of the MCG or the character of the SCG, but the Adelaide Oval has as much charm as either.
It is a vast amphitheater of a venue, every seat offering a splendid view and helping attract a five-day crowd figure of 199,147 – topping even the Bodyline series of 1933 targeting its home-town hero – and second only to Melbourne for an Ashes aggregate attendance.
After four days of play, the contest was still well poised, albeit favouring the hosts.
Not so much on a knife edge as a semi-blunt wood-splitter.
England required 178 runs to win and level the series, Australia the more achievable six wickets to go 2-0 up.
The visitors had hope, the locals had expectation.
And the organisers had uncharacteristic goodwill, announcing that fifth-day entry would be just a gold coin donation to charity.
Neutrals, if there were any, dreamed of a scenario reminiscent of Edgbaston 2005.
Such fantasies lasted about as long as Chris Woakes.
Almost single-handedly (with a little help from Tim Paine), Josh Hazlewood killed off the contest.
With his second delivery he claimed Woakes, and with his second over he added England's last hope, captain Joe Root.
Livin' on a Prayer sang the balmy Barmy Army, although Bad Medicine would have been an equally appropriate Bon Jovi selection.
The Adelaide Oval's hero worship of its former groundsman Nathan Lyon was repaid with the wicket of Moeen Ali – the Englishman dismissed by his fellow spinner for the fourth time in as many outings, or rather innings.
What spectators had suspected could be a tight final day was proving to be a one-sided final 90 minutes.
The venue reserved a charming reception for the arrival of Broad – the anti-Lyon – who, in turn, rewarded them with a meagre eight-run contribution.
Mitchell Starc, arguably the best bowler in the world right now, took the new ball.
Be afraid, be very afraid.
To prove the point, the first thing that new ball touched after leaving Starc's left hand, save for a brief introduction with the pitch, was Craig Overton's left pad.
It would have been his middle stump so he was on his way.
Broad followed in Starc's second over and Jonny Bairstow in his third.
Jimmy Anderson came in with a mere 130 more runs required and was last man standing having failed to reduce those arrears.
It was a predictably brilliant Starc yorker that sent Bairstow's off-stump catapulting towards Perth and the Ashes urn jetting towards Australia (metaphorically speaking only of course).
On the same day that Russia was finally punished for exhibiting all the worst aspects of modern sport, here were some of the best.
And, for once, there was a decent crowd to enjoy it.