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Paint it any way you want to and nothing will change. Drum up all the positive aspects you can find and that will still be the case.
Ignore every negative aspect and it will still be so.
Direct criticism at the opposition, their tactics, their pitches, the weather, their cricketing behaviour and every other facet of the Ashes from the other side of the fence and, well you should’ve caught the drift by now.
And the documentary that will inevitably be made by the jingoistic broadcasters Sky Sports will, in the final analysis, say exactly the same.
England 3, Australia 0.
A simple scoreline that will, unless Australia develop an extreme propaganda ministry, stay the same as long as records are kept and will always be the answer to any barbed comments or opinion that is directed at the victors.
Of course, it would be the same had the boot been on the other foot – that is just the way sport is – so not too much should be read into it but, if you’re that way inclined, spare me any of the buts and maybes.
If you can’t close out games, you won’t win series. Blindingly obvious and non-negotiable.
This Australian side may well have an innovative and attacking captain, in stark contrast to his counterpart, but that counts for absolutely nothing if the tools available can’t do the job.
And while Michael Clarke should feel pleased that some of his charges have shown enough to suggest the future isn’t all doom and gloom, he would be wise not to get caught up in some of the drivel spouted during the final Test at The Oval.
England’s batting on the third day was turgid and it could well have done with an extra gear but the assessments of some were so missing the point that if irony took on a human form and punched them in the face it wouldn’t have registered.
It was like seeing a little child complaining that life isn’t fair because they can’t have a bar of chocolate straight after their morning cereal.
‘‘You’re not making a game of it and we don’t like it”. Well diddums.
The home side did what they did because they could and if that was a problem, then so what.
Would it really have been that much of a surprise if Australia, in the same situation, did the same? (that doesn’t need answering).
Sportsmen across the world are pragmatic beings and they do what they have to, you only have to compare Kevin Pietersen’s contrasting efforts which illustrated the point perfectly.
That it frustrated the hell out of the visitors would have only concerned those who don’t really understand the professional mentality or who have a far too idealistic view on what should occur at any given stage.
It would’ve warmed the soul to see England flay it to all corners and set up a naturally thrilling finale to the series, however, I would’ve liked to have seen Newcastle take Manchester City to the cleaners last week but that wasn’t going to happen either.
Wanting and needing rarely occupy the same void and naivety doesn’t alter that fact.
So instead, let’s concentrate on what we can accurately base in reality and state that England will go into the return series as favourites and so they should.
Collectively they have a stronger batting side and their bowling won’t be as disadvantaged by antipodean conditions as some seem to believe.
Yes, the pitches won’t turn as much, and a few groundsmen would be asking for the sack if they do, but surfaces with more life in them, while suiting the home seamers, still have to be batted on and the evidence presented recently doesn’t indicate a top order resurgence by Clarke’s men.
While that should contradict James Faulkner’s assertion that the Australians will dictate proceedings on home turf, it is difficult to see how familiarity will manifest itself in as many disastrous sessions the second time around.
If anything weighs on Clarke’s mind in the aftermath of what’s just gone it should be that his side have been competitive but when it really came to the crunch they were unable to meet the challenge.
It could well have been so different but if you lose by 15 runs it might as well be 150 runs and the margin of victory becomes more and more irrelevant the longer you look at it.
And that margin is just how it is.
3-0.