First day: Warwickshire have scored 248 for nine in their first innings against Nottinghamshire
In years to come those Warwickshire supporters that ventured to Trent Bridge yesterday will be able to say 'I was there.'
For the lucky few that did travel up the M42 witnessed something very special; the genesis, perhaps, of a player who will go on to achieve great things in the world of cricket.
Moeen Ali has promised much for some time. Last season he became the second-youngest scorer of a first-class half-century for the club when he made 57 against Cambridge UCCE while he has also been fitfully brilliant at international age-group level.
Yet he has also infuriated. He averaged only16 in the Second XI Championship last year and was overlooked for a place in the first team in order to "give him a kick up the backside." Instead Luke Parker was selected.
Through it all, however, Moeen has insisted that he would excel the higher level he played. He has never attempted to hide his international ambitions and said he would be forced to leave Edgbaston at the end of this season if opportunities did not arrive.
It is one thing to talk a good game; quite another to deliver. Yesterday he won selection for his Champion-ship debut even before Neil Carter pulled out with a side strain, and arrived at the crease with his team in disarray.
Yet, on a pitch offering great assistance to the bowlers, and against a fine attack that took their side to the Championship last season, he was calmness personified.
At first Nottinghamshire pressurised him; by the end they were gifting him singles so as not to have to bowl at him. This was a magnificent innings; a gem; a delight. And he's only 18!
His first scoring shot, an elegant drive for four through extra cover, was entirely typical. He times the few as only a special few can and has time enough to play his shot several times overs.
Perhaps too long. For Moeen's fault has always been a propensity to get himself out. The context of the game actually played to his strengths. The more the hosts barracked him, the easier it was to focus; the more his colleagues faltered; the greater the onus on him. He loved every moment of it.
Warwickshire were grateful to a partnership between their oldest and youngest player for partially digging themselves out of a heap of trouble. They were in trouble at 133 for six when England's Under-19 captain came together with 36-year-old Dougie Brown, and facing a repeat of last year's debacle.
Nick Knight fell to the fifth delivery of the day. Playing forward at a beauty that pitched on off and left him, he gifted David Alleyne the first of four catches.
Ian Bell - only 23 himself - departed in familiar fashion. Just as happened so often in India, he appeared stuck in the crease, neither forward nor back, and hung his bat out at one he should have left. He must be a real doubt for the England squad to be announced on Sunday. England's loss could be Warwickshire's gain.
Ian Westwood's uncomfortable stay ended when he attempted to withdraw from a pull and top-edged to point. Westwood had already been dropped in the slips as he fenced outside off and must now be living on borrowed time in the first team.
Jonathan Trott withstood a superb spell from Ryan Side-bottom but edged to slip as he drove without making it to the pitch of the ball.
Jim Troughton fought well for more than an hour before giving it away with a loose drive and Michael Powell's resolute defiance was ended when he overbalanced and played across a straight one.
Sidebottom was largely unplayable. He passed the bat so often with his late swing that he must have wondered what he had to do to earn a wicket. If the England selectors are still at a loss for a seamer next week they could do much worse.
Andy Harris, bowling staight and at a lively pace, reaped the rewards. He did not swing the ball as much but bowled a good line and exploited the conditions. This was the 16th five-wicket haul of his career.
It is just as well Brown and Ali provided some resistance. Inserted on a helpful pitch - Warwickshire had been unsure what to do had they won the toss - the Bears might have been deep in the mire without them.
Since his century against Yorkshire early last season Brown (167 balls, nine fours) has struggled. This was only his third time past 50 in 27 first-class innings and, though rarely pretty, it was typically doughty.
He had to wait long periods before poor balls came along but latched on to them with typically muscular fashion until a moment's loss of concentration resulted in him driving at one well outside off that he would have been better leaving.
Moeen (140 balls, 12 fours and a six) was serene from the start. Perhaps a taller man than Mark Ealham might have clasped his lofted drive when, on 14, he came down the pitch to the impressive Graeme Swann, but he played straight, late and only within his immediate shape. He has the technique and confidence to go far.
His driving through cover, off front and back foot, was sublime. He also produced a nonchalant pull for six off Harris when the bowler tried to ruffle him with a short ball. It was an innings reminiscent of Gower; and there can be no greater praise.
He had some fortune in his 40s. Squared up by the deserving Ealham, his edge could have flown anyway but found its way between slip and gully, while his one moment of ill-discipline saw a thick edge race for four over gully.
His 50, however, was brought up by the most perfect of cover drives and the way he was able to shield Jimmy Anyon from the strike and see his side to the brink of another bonus point spoke volumes for his maturity and cricket brain.
There was little resistance once Brown and Moeen had been parted. Tony Frost wafted feebly at a wide one that was leaving him, Streak edged the very next delivery, an unplayable brute of a ball, and Anyon could hardly lay bat on ball.
Warwickshire are very much on the back foot in a match that Streak said would "define our season." The pitch has eased substantially and Warwickshire will have to produce something special with the ball. Perhaps Moeen will have to produce some magic with his off-spin, too?
