Morkel then removed number eight Abdur Rehman in the next over, before ending Ali's long vigil thanks to another short leg catch from Amla.

BBC: SA's Morne Morkel puts Pakistan in trouble in Dubai

Before things get that far, Washington will re-plead its case to Saudi Arabia to open the taps, or at the very least prompt Ali Naimi (the long standing Saudi oil minister) to quell the market with the right kind of supply side messages.

FORBES: Oil Hits $100 A Barrel: Time For The Strategic Reserve?

He's been a life-long fan of Ali's that at the age of 22, managed to arrange a dramatic encounter.

NPR: Boxer Muhammad Ali Turns 65