Welcome to the club, Ireland. And as it turned out, Malahide’s introduction to Test cricket proved a contest of equal magnitude to the occasion, with Ireland brought to the brink of beating Pakistan by Kevin O’Brien’s curiously becalmed century. It was the sort of innings you never expected to see emanating from his round, brawny shoulders: an innings of subtlety and wit as well as power and patience, the illegitimate offspring of WG Grace and James Joyce.

A terrific time had by all, then. And yet, once it was all done, Ireland had lost much more than a Test match. O’Brien’s red-letter day had added up to a big red number: the whole match had cost Cricket Ireland around €1 million (£870,000) to stage, a sum it would not remotely recoup. The rain that washed out the entire first day cost them more on top of that figure. So yes, welcome to the club, Ireland. But like most exclusive clubs, you might find the joining fee a touch hefty.

The Big Three takeover may have been scaled back in theory, but the rationale underpinning it remains in place: that Test cricket is not a global good or an equitable competition, but a gift given paternalistically by the big to the small, a favour for which they are expected to pay handsomely, wait patiently and know nothing.

Bangladesh still don’t know when they’ll next tour Australia. Afghanistan still have no idea when they’re going to be playing their second Test. Nor do O’Brien and Ireland. Welcome to the club, guys. But like a lot of exclusive clubs, it’s going to feel pretty weird for a while.