Any day that produces a scoreline of 203 for 16 over two innings is certainly not normal.
Day one of the third Test in Dubai saw some frankly crazy cricket and it will not be remembered affectionately by the batsmen of both sides.
Indeed, one suspects that a hastily-arranged net session will be swiftly followed by a tot or two of a robust spirit after stumps for the misfiring frontline batsmen.
Of the 16 wickets to fall in the day, nine were lbw as the bowlers gleefully capitalised upon the batsmen's growing uncertainty and mental fragility in confronting the opinion-splitting Decision Review System.
There have now been a staggering 35 lbw dismissals in the series - a new record for a three-Test series, eclipsing the 33 between West Indies and Pakistan back in 1993.
Make no mistake about it, the game is changing and evolving and many batsmen have yet to effectively adapt their games and techniques accordingly.
The stated aim of the DRS was to reduce umpiring mistakes, and for the most part it is achieving that. In this series at least, however, its effects has gone beyond that and shifted the fundamental balance of the game.
Marginal calls are increasingly going in the favour of the bowler; the benefit of the doubt has been replaced with an attempt to anticipate the call on the TV umpire's monitor.
Umpires are being overruled frequently and being judged accordingly; Simon Taufel, often heralded as the finest umpire in the game, looked a broken man at times during the day, his rulings being constantly undermined.
There were eight umpiring reviews in all on day one and the Australian Taufel, who has openly considered retirement more than once, may opt to go for a review himself - of his own future - after a frustrating time in his first day officiating in the series.
England came into the third and final Test in Dubai looking to save some face and restore pride after a chastening defeat in Abu Dhabi, but they could not have dreamt of a more successful start.
Pakistan imploded in dramatic and astonishing fashion on Friday morning. Test cricket suddenly seemed easy again for Andrew Strauss's struggling tourists.
The hosts began the third Test in Dubai imagining their first whitewash in a Test series against England, but by drinks on the first morning they had lost five wickets, and by lunch they had lost seven.
It was a truly remarkable first session of play after Misbah-ul-Haq had won the toss and gleefully elected to bat. Strauss admitted he would have made the same call, and no one could suggest that this is a 16-wicket-a-day pitch.
No England bowler has taken five wickets on the first morning of a Test since Sydney Barnes destroyed South Africa in 1913-14, but Broad came agonisingly close to emulating that feat with four for 21 to his name at lunch.
In England in 2010, Pakistan collapsed for 72, 76 and 80, three batting disasters at Edgbaston, Lord's and Trent Bridge that count among their eight lowest Test scores in history. Dubai in 2012 can now be added to that list of dismal tallies as the hosts were skittled out for just 99.
Against Australia in Sharjah 10 years ago they were dismissed for 53 and 59 in their first Test in the UAE - Pakistan's two lowest Test scores. The morning session brought back bad memories.
It was a bizarre but exhilarating day of Test cricket and, for all the frustrations of the batsmen, it was sure entertaining.
One suspects that the biggest loser in all this will be the authorities: three-day matches may be explosive and entertaining - but they also mean two days without live cricket to broadcast.
What did you make of the astonishing scenes on day one in Dubai? Is the DRS good for the game, and do you enjoy seeing so many wickets fall in a single day?
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STAT OF THE DAY: It was Pakistan's worst start on the first day of a Test match since they lost seven wickets for 46 runs against Australia at Sharjah back in October 2002.
TWEET OF THE DAY: "Just looking up what I think is the shortest completed Test match - Australia v South Africa in 1932 at the MCG. It took five hours and 53 minutes, but didn't finish until four days after it started!" (@AlisonMitchell)
USER COMMENT OF THE DAY: "What a day. Now we need to twist the knife and keep them down. I have been saddened that the cricket forum is full of ill advised and downright derogatory posts - a lot of them from so called England fans. This team worked hard to get the number one ranking, and a couple of bad Tests in what is our off season sees them get criticised. They were bushwhacked by a team that have got it together very well. Give Pakistan full credit for that." (Aitch in Phitsanulok)
RANDOM NEWS OF THE DAY: The England and Wales Cricket Board have confirmed an approach made to the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, to become a patron of the ECB. The Duchess is thought to be 'unlikely' to accept the proposal. Read the full story...
SHOTS OF THE DAY: Oooooooohhhhhhh... Monty entertains all seven of the fans inside the Dubai International Cricket Stadium with some eccentric catching practice. This ball ended up landing on top of Graham Gooch's sweater.
Misbah shows Strauss his latest dance routine at the coin toss. It was described as 'Misbah does the Macarena'...
A fan looks incredibly frustrated as a portly gent with a pork pie hat decides to sit one seat away from him with the rest of the stand deserted. "But look - this is my seat! Ask the steward..."
KP claims to have found a hair from Matt Prior's bald head. The Brylcreem boy holds it aloft triumphantly but, as usual, his team-mates tell him to pipe down. It can be purchased on ebay, though...
Yes, there really were as many flags as spectators at the ground...
