The verdict, there, of the cricketing commentariat not on England's current 3-1 Test series defeat by India, sealed by a fine fourth-day run chase in Ranchi. But the verdict instead on the last time England's Test team went to India, won the first Test, then lost the next three on some skiddy pitches. At which point, despite England having won their previous four series under Joe Root, back in March 2021 the world seemed fit to burn.
Three years on we have essentially the same outcome. And it will be tempting to contrast the softer, more doe-eyed verdict on England's defeat by the same series score (with one still to play).
Mention will be made, not least among baffled followers of other Test nations, of the cult-like aspects of the Stokes Supremacy, the bubble-speak about England's attacking style bringing new levels of excellence out of their opponents for this service, no charge - and the sense nobody around here actually loses a game of cricket, that this is simply part of the overarching universal energy.
Plus there remains the unchallenged new dictum that you cannot, for reasons that are unclear, enjoy the positive parts of England's aggressive cricket, and also find things to improve on in defeat. It isn't clear why this should be the case. But it's what people say. So it must be true.
This is of course all part of the fun of this England Test team. Has there ever been a more bizarrely polarising tactical approach to this complex and fusty old sport? Much of the extreme devotional stuff is to do with the power of personality. People love Ben Stokes, a great player who happens to be charismatic, smart and also kind, in an arena where this is not always an essential part of the leadership culture.
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