At the Vitality Blast T20 Finals Day at Edgbaston last Sunday, I sat in the stands opposite the Hollies with my children and watched a man dressed as a pig come charging through the crowd, pursued by a group of butchers in aprons.
The chase played out on the big screens, the pig weaving through the stand until one of the butchers finally caught him. The crowd's roar grew with every turn.
I later discovered this was more than fancy dress. The tradition goes back to the 19th century, when a pig really did interrupt a match at Edgbaston. What began as an actual disruption on the field has evolved into a cherished ritual in the stands.
Cricket is tradition as much as it is the game itself, and some of its best moments have nothing to do with the ball.