ROMANCE and sport rarely go together.

But one of the quirks of cricket frequently provides heart-warming scenes.

A gallant nightwatchman strides out to protect a prize batsman.

‘Don’t worry pal, you sit down, I’ll deal with this,’ says a man with an average in the low digits, who then faces some chin music and cops a few blows.

It’s marvellous stuff, a perfect demonstration of the oft-used phrase ‘taking one of the team’.

A bowler, who would rather be sat in his flip-flops, striding to the middle to face a barrage in order to look after batsman who doesn’t want to do what he is paid for.

Yet it’s an act that infuriates many.

England used two nightwatchmen in the second Test victory against Australia – Jimmy Anderson as the shadows lengthened on Thursday and Tim Bresnan on Friday evening.

‘What are you doing?’ Was the cry from many onlookers, frustrated that on day one bowler Stuart Broad was being protected and on day two England were wasting time given they already had a huge lead.

Yet on both occasions it was a success with Broad and Graeme Swann producing a swash-buckling last-wicket stand in the first innings and resolute Bresnan (who is more than capable with bat in hand) sapping the life out of the Aussies in the second. There have been some notable performances by nightwatchmen – Alex Tudor striking a brilliant yet heartbreaking unbeaten 99 for England, Jason Gillespie totting up an incredible 201 not out for Australia.

But even when it doesn’t work, the noble actions of a nightwatchman enrich cricket.