Butt has lived in theshadowsof team-mates Beckham and Paul Scholes for Manchester United and England - but this was theday he could hog the spotlight himself.
His decision to have the sycophant group remain in the back ofthe Duke's apartment in theshadows during Gilda's confessional "Tutte le feste (Each holy day)" was jarring, and there the chorus remained through Damrau's chilling high note that ended the "Si, vendetta" duet.
Andrew Strauss claimed an extra half hour to try to finish off Australia, but with theshadows lengthening Smith and Siddle showed enough nous to push the match into the final day, taking advantage of some hyper-attacking fields to add 42 runs in 10 overs.
This level of cooperation and integration is going to be critical in defeating the type of determined and resourceful -- and oftentimes in theshadows -- opponents that you're up against every day.