The Black Caps’ extraordinary one-run win over England at the Basin Reserve this week was yet more evidence the game needs to be quietly restrained and placed in a room with padded walls.
Neil Wagner’s exuberant (arguably slightly deranged) celebration when the 36-year-old left-armer removed the last hurdle — the gutted figure of James Anderson who feathered a catch down legside — summed up the moment up perfectly.
All the tension of the last five days had culminated in something quite magical.
Even vanquished captain Ben Stokes got to celebrate a victory of sorts.
"Even though we came out on the wrong side of it, you can't help but feel blessed that we've managed to be a part of that incredible game," he told journalists.
Some of the adrenaline powering our favourite adopted South African to pick up the last wicket washed over the press pack.
Many were quick to put it at the top or near the top of our greatest test wins.
Rightly so, but where does it rank now we have had a few days to breathe?
These sorts of lists have resulted in a lot of bump balls directed at Notes From Slip in the past, so this time the plan is to (duck) put together a shortlist for your consideration.
Legging it — Stephen Boock and Gary Troup ran a leg bye to clinch a dramatic one-wicket win over the West Indies at Carisbrook in 1980.
Moments earlier, Boock had been "hiding in the dressing room" with the lights turned off.
He really did not fancy facing Joel Garner but got his pad in the way and scrambled through for the most comical of leg byes to win the game.
Chats bats — Ewen Chatfield, arguably one of the worst No11s of all time and a man who was once almost killed by a bouncer, heroically saw off a young Wasim Akram in a gutsy 50-run stand with Jeremy Coney to clinch a tense two-wicket victory over Pakistan at Carisbrook in 1985.
To add to the drama, Lance Cairns had retired hurt after been struck by an Akram bouncer and had to be assisted from the field.
Akram was then warned for bowling bumper after bumper at Chats and that only increased the tension.
The Mace is coming home — New Zealand’s eight-wicket victory over India in the World Test Championship final in Southhampton in 2021 might lack the drama of the other games on the list, but there was an awful lot more at stake.
Kyle Jamieson took five for 31 in the first innings to set up the win, and two of New Zealand’s greatest batters — Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson — were in the middle when the winning runs were hit.
That photo of them embracing should be turned into a bronze.
The man, the moustache — Richard Hadlee produced the greatest spell of fast bowling in the history of the game when he almost singled-handedly rolled Australia at its Brisbane fortress, the Gabba. Nine for 52.
It would make a great number plate.
Martin Crowe’s knock of 188 was a master class as well. New Zealand went on to win by heaps.
It set the tone for New Zealand’s only series win in Australia.
Dream finish — Pakistan collapsed on the last session of the last day in mercurial fashion.
It was also Shane Bond’s last test.
He took five for 107 in the first innings to help set up the 32-run win in Dunedin in 2009.
He hobbled in on the last day with the nail missing on his big left toe.
Iain O’Brien had dislocated his bowling finger and Daniel Vettori had a bung shoulder.
It was an against-the-odds win.
Did someone mention odds?
