It will tell us about its unlikeliness, for never once since 1877, when England and Australia began this whole Test thing, has a match been drawn with even scores - ties, yes; two a penny, those ties, but a level-score draw, no, none ever.

And it will tell us about its home-team spirit, its visitors' adventure and its nerve-jangling, nail-biting excitement. In the end, the fact that it was a draw was the epic thing about it.

The memories of sport need something to get their teeth into and yes, for now - for today and tomorrow - it was a deep disappointment to England that they did not win. This touring party feel victimised, undermined and belittled by unsympathetic coverage of their efforts so far, and with victory, of course, would have come vindication. But the thing to get your teeth into on this remarkable occasion was the result. And the memory of the heroes who brought it to pass.

Of Nick Knight, who played the hand of his life; of Alec Stewart, batsman in both innings and wicketkeeper all through; of the Zimbabwean heroes who fielded, and how.

When England began their frantic pursuit of 205 in 37 overs, all four of cricket's results were a possibility. When the last of those 37 overs began with England needing 13 from it, all four of those results, technically at least, were still a possibility.

In a limited-overs match the chase would have been a doddle. In a Test, with no restrictions on field placement and virtually no restrictions on the width or height of the bowling, the chase was a darned nuisance. The pitch was worn, too, by the bowlers' foot marks either side of the stumps.

Yet, against the odds, England, thanks to their skill and running and to initial naivety from Zimbabwe, man- oeuvred to the final 10 overs needing just 59 with nine wickets in hand.

Then the sheer scattiness of it all took over. They lost four wickets in 31 balls for just 28 runs and with this little drama went the game. Streak had returned to the attack, or defence, as it was, and bent the law in his favour by mixing the two bouncers that he was permitted each over with yorkers, full tosses and stuff that even Heineken could not reach. Just once he was called wide, and so he straightened, but by the end - and most vividly for the third-last ball of the match - he was wide again and the umpire had not the stomach nor the inclination to penalise him. It is not something to dwell on; it would probably have happened with any team who bowl under such stern examination, and anyway, it made for the result and for the memory.

Zimbabwean cricket is struggling to expand. The administrators seek to spread the game's gospel and need days like this to attract attention.

Even the Africans who do not know cricket will understand that for yesterday afternoon, sport was king and cricket was the sport.