It is surely worth the International Cricket Council further exploring a world championship of Test cricket with points earned from every series, whatever their distance, that would make up a worldwide league table.
More romantically, it is a pity that these enterprising Pakistan tourists are not granted more of a show. They really ought to be. They are awfully good to watch.
Imran Khan says that they are the best of all Pakistan teams, which may be a little exaggerated, but they are a mightily gifted bunch all the same and have two fine young bowlers among them - the springy and fast Mohammad Akram and the intelligent off-spinner, Saqlain Mushtaq - who have not yet had a game.
For that matter Aqib Javed, the swing bowler, and Basit Ali, the well-organised batsman, were left at home, which gives you an idea of the depth of talent in a country that has a limited first-class structure and barren facilities for recreational cricket.
Three of this party in particular give the spectator a good time. Pride of place to Mushtaq Ahmed, the leg-spinner with the hop, skip and jump, whose compelling varieties ensure that audience and opponent alike are kept on their toes.
All right, it is infuriating that he appeals at every turn but we, like the excellent umpires at Headingley, are becoming used to his idiosyncracies and are best appreciating them as an illustration of his unbridled enthusiasm.
It is a tiresome subject, this ball business
In complete temperamental contrast to ``Mushie'' is Inzamam-ul-Haq, the powerhouse batsman whose lumbering frame and almost suspicious face belie his crisp and extrovert strokeplay. Even yesterday, as the game drifted away, the big man entertained us with a thumping 65 runs from 83 balls before being caught, would you believe for a man running a rearguard, on the third-man boundary.
Thunderous applause too for captain Wasim Akram, who is leading his men with honour and without arrogance, handling the paparazzi with sympathy and bowling with endeavour and craft, but without fortune. He might agree that he is not quite at his breathtaking best; he might wonder if his experiments - those mixtures of yorker, swinger and bouncer are being taken too far; and he might, if he stopped for just a second, wonder if he is rushing himself, so short now is his run and so agreeably quickly does he get through his overs.
He has taken just five wickets in the two matches at 40 each, which is as un-Akram-like as can be. Perhaps retribution lies in waiting in London.
Ironically, the Reader ball which has been changed willy-nilly as it has lost its shape, but which Akram chose to use, may not suit him. There is a great deal more to his bowling than reverse swing and his near-perfect wrist position which ensures an upright seam would benefit from a ball which responds to his skill.
It is a tiresome subject, this ball business, but the importance of the ball to the pattern of play and to its balance with the bat, especially on as good a batting surface as this one, cannot be underestimated.
For now three cheers to Pakistan, they are one ahead whatever the ball, which is bully for them and tricky for England, who may have found a batting formula, but whose bowling equation is still a little awry. If only the series was over the proper distance.