Watching international cricket on television or from the raised media centre behind a bowler’s arm can be deceptive.
Of course, it helps your understanding of the game and provides you with the clearest view of proceedings possible, but it denies you a true assessment of the skill that goes into playing the game at the highest level.
A painfully slow trip down three floors in the lift and walk through the press conference area here in Dubai changes that perspective drastically.
Sitting 80 or so yards away from the middle on the boundary edge, the senses are focused.
The early morning heat of the UAE wraps around you, as does the prospect of facing a fired up Wahab Riaz touching 90mph for nine overs off the bat.
The left-arm quick’s first session spell on day three in Dubai was delightfully devastating.
Riaz did what he has done so time and again for Pakistan, run in and give his absolute everything for the cause, not giving the batsman at the other end an inch.
Over the course of his Saturday morning burst, Riaz accounted for three English wickets at the cost of just 15 runs.
It was a lesson in quick bowling as he complemented snorting bouncers with immense control and the slightest hint of reverse.
That is a potent mixture for anyone to combat and one the English batsman found too tough to handle.
Aligned with Yasir Shah’s skill at the other end, the pair set about dismantling English hopes of a victory inside the first hour and a half of cricket on day three.
While Shah is expected to get through long spells, it is unusual for a captain to expect a team-mate to bowl at an average of 141km/h for nine straight overs in temperatures in excess of 35 degrees celsius.
But while Misbah-ul-Haq was calling the shots, there was no sign from Riaz that he was ready to be hauled off, even if he was visibly feeling the effects of his remarkable exertions.
These spells have come to define the burly seamer.
Most will remember Riaz delivering one of the finest fast bowling spells in ODI history earlier this year as he gave Shane Watson a torrid time at the World Cup, while his introduction to Test cricket is as memorable as it is frustrating.
Back in 2010, Riaz announced himself on the scene with 5-63 at the Oval, Pakistan supporters feeling like they had finally found the man to fill the gaping void in quick bowling left by the departure of Wasim Akram.
Thanks to large spells of inconsistency and an injury list so commonly associated with the fastest bowlers in the world, Riaz was absent from Test cricket for three years until his return in 2014 and that first innings against England five years ago remains his Test best.
While Riaz hasn’t run through teams on his own, his ability to pull match-winning spells out of his green cap highlights his impact and importance to Pakistan.
In the 12 innings since his return to the Test fold against Sri Lanka last year, Riaz has picked up three or more wickets on six occasions.
With Shah spinning his web to bamboozling effect at the other end, Riaz’s knack of picking up wickets when most needed is proving effective.
The pair leave opposition with nowhere to run.
Shah is on top of you without relent, while Riaz is bombarding with pace, swing and an immense amount of discipline.
And it does not go unnoticed.
As Riaz slowly strolled back to his mark after Stuart Broad fended a bouncer just out of reach of short-leg, wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed ran to his bowler halfway through the over to offer encouragement and a pat on the backside in a bid to keep the workhorse galloping at full pace.
At 30 years of age, it is now up to Pakistan to ensure their stallion remains capable of such devastation before he’s put out to stud.
