So when he tried, for the first time in six years, he was surprised to find that it felt like a nervous tick, before finally creasing into a broad smile.

They are nervous ticks that come and go.

The nervous ticks he displayed, constantly re-strapping his pads and re-marking his guard, gave an indication of the enormous pressure he put on himself to succeed.

Of course most of the greats have been afflicted by nervous ticks that don't quite tally.