Sure, we lost/they won the Ashes, but I know which team I and cricket fans around the world would rather support. Not only are captains and players like Stokes rare, but people like him are, and while we might not get to keep an urn, as a not particularly prideful nor patriotic person, I love the way we conduct ourselves, and I'm proud to be a fan of English cricket. They're not just players to be inspired by, but people, and the future of our game is as exciting as it's ever been when we've role models like these.
If anger is going to be the overwhelming emotion as a result of this series, then this England team may not be for you.
In the words of Ben Stokes, 'It's not what you get, it's what you become.' Enjoy the urn, Aussies, I'll take the players, personalities and approach of our team every time.
If you've read any of my posts about cricket over the past year and a half, then you know without any shadow of a doubt that this England team is 100% not for me.
Ben Stokes is an amazing cricketer, a thoroughly decent bloke, a great entertainer and his team has just bungled their biggest challenge. Won't get another shot at it for two and a half years - will Stokes still be playing then? You'd hope so, but with that knee of his......