For England supporters, this is a time for unalloyed joy and celebration. England have soundly beaten Australia and won the Ashes. Simple as.
Victory over the old enemy is English cricket's syringe of heroin: an instant feel-good; a balm for all troubles; gratification in and of itself. One of Lou Reed's Perfect Days.
The first test series I saw on TV was in 1975, we lost but I was hooked. I remember sneaking my radio to bed for the Centenary Test in 1977 as Derek Randall tried his best to win the match against Lillee and Tommo in their prime.
From the late 1970s to the mid-1980s, England routinely beat Australia.
But then began a period of Antipodean dominance so long, so utter, and so unanswerable, that precious few believed the urn would ever return to these shores. Because the Ashes define us, emotionally, the brutal Australian period of dominance corroded my soul and hacked our self-esteem to shreds.
This is why, even though England have now won five of the last seven series, any Ashes victory still creates that moreish, irresistible, sugar-rush of redemption and bliss.
Especially so, since the savage humiliation of 2013-14 remains so raw in the memory.
This series England won, against the apparent odds. The team played with more fThe Aussie skipper has struggled with the bat recently, averaging just 32 since the turn of the year, and having posted a top score of 38 in his last 11 Ashes innings.reedom and self-expression than for years.
Stuart Broad is in the form of his life. Joe Root is now a genuine world-class batting superstar.
Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali point to an exciting future.
But now comes the self pitying bit.
I cannot find it in myself to derive one iota's pleasure from England regaining the Ashes.
And here's why.
For the last forty years, man and boy, I gave the England cricket team everything I had.
During my cricket fandom period, come thick or thin, and it was mainly thin, I was a loyal England supporter.
I was emotionally invested, committed, and patriotic.
I identified my own fortunes with those of the England team.
Victory brought joy, defeat sorrow. Tense, important, and closely-fought matches reduced me to a nervous wreck.
In the days before the internet, I followed entire sessions test matches on Ceefax.
Throughout my years as a supporter, I backed our players without question. I defended the team when they lost.
During the dark years of the 1980s and 1990s, no defeat - no matter how supine - turned me against England.
Neither results nor the quality of performance were relevant. I gave unconditional love.
I greatly admired Andrew Strauss, both as player and captain. I admired Alastair Cook during the 2010-11 Ashes, and the 2012 India tour.
What did we get in return as England fans?
When push came to shove, how were those years of unflinching loyalty repaid?
In February 2014 the ECB took a long, slow look at us, and then – quite deliberately – thrown a bucket of cold piss in our faces.
When the ECB responded to reasonable questions and objections over the Pietersen affair by abusing and belittling their own supporters, by telling lies, and by avoiding interviews but leaking innuendo through their friends in the press, they made an important statement.
The England side was their own personal property. It belonged to them, and no one else.
No England follower, in the ECB's view, possessed any equity in the team. They take your money, and that's as far as it goes, you can rot in hell as far as Giles Clarke and co are concerned.
When the ECB decided they would pick the England team on the basis of their corporate politics and personal grudges, rather than cricketing merit, they killed stone dead the concept of a national England cricket team.
From that point onwards, the eleven players on the field would represent the ECB, not England.
I find it impossible to invest my emotional energy into a corporate entity. I may as well support Vodafone or American Express.
When the ECB moved heaven and earth to construct the fantasy portrayal of Alastair Cook as a saintly, selfless, national saviour - when their own evidence suggested he willfully helped destroy Kevin Pietersen's career, for no apparent reason beyond his own benefit - they made another factor clear.
Nothing about the England team - what they said, what they did, or how they operated - could ever again be taken at face value.
Black was white and white was black. The England XI on the field was a sham.
Because Cook had colluded and connived with his bosses' skulduggery, he became their place-man, an on-field role of ECB representative which he gladly accepted.
And yet the team was built around him, and justified by his supposed virtues.
The side became his vehicle and vanity project, further eroding any remaining claim to a representative mandate.
How much could I enjoy supporting a side like that? How fervently could I cheer them on?
How could I identify myself with England, when England wanted nothing to do with me?
What had been the point of forty years of anguish and heart-break on their behalf?
And why should I endure any more, for their sake?
The ECB have had eighteen months to reflect on their misconduct and selfishness.
Despite tsunamis of criticism, they have never provided a word of recognition or regret.
The substitution of Colin Graves for Giles Clarke has made not one jot of difference.
They have no interest in olive branches. They don't think they've done anything wrong.
They enjoy being the 'inside' and they want you and me to remain firmly outside.
The entire concept of supporting a sports team relies on the principle of joint endeavour.
Otherwise you're spending your spare time cheering on millionaire strangers.
The ECB severed public from team and are happy to keep it that way.
I can't get excited about a party I've not been invited to.
I can't take pride in the achievements of a project which didn't want me involved.
This isn't another KP apologist post, there are far more important problems in English cricket than one player.
The Sky deal, the Big Three, administrative myopia and self-interest will all cause English and world cricket far more damage than team selection.
This has never been about one player. It will never will be. It's about belonging.
It's about ownership. English's cricket's moral corruption and destructive conduct - whether at home or abroad, however expressed - are part of the same problem.
Because they believe cricket is theirs, and theirs only, they do what the hell they like, and couldn't care less about the consequences.
I don't want it to be this way. I want my England back. I want your England back. But we didn't start this fire. And we cannot put it out alone.
My biggest fear is that it's not just England for which my love has disappeared, but the Albion too.
Something is missing, and I suspect that others feel the same way about the club and the game we all grew up with as I do.
Hmm. I can see your point. Then again I do plan my life to go to these games. Good value days out.
