The nervous nineties, that phenomenon likely to rear its head over the coming weeks if the batsmen Down Under can get on top of the bowlers. Fielders crowded around the bat, singles nowhere. Can’t get it off the square. Fluent batters floundering.
But not in northern England. Erling Haaland’s ascent to his century has been unwavering, aggressively sweeping away those in his arc with the confidence of a man who is not only to join that elite 100 club, but top the lot of them in how fast he arrived – and by some distance.