So, I stayed up to watch the Last Rites

I used to watch England with a sort of resigned and hysterical pessimism. I would be stoic when everything collapsed after Mark Ramprakash fell for 63 again. I would be a little bit cheered when Alan Mullally scored more than 3. England avoiding the follow on made it a good match.

Then this team came along: They lured me in with their being good. Not just good once or twice, but consistently good. They stole my comfort blanket of pessimism and replaced it with genuine belief and feeling.

Bastards.