England show the game is about glory in remarkable Test summer

Is sports only about winning?

Danny Blanchflower used to say that the game was first and last about winning. It's not anything like that.

The game is about winning. It's about going out and beating the other lot, not waiting for them to die of boredom.

Ben has previously said that he is a fan of Spurs.

If he is aware of Blanchflower's words, he will agree with them.

The restoration of joy to their cricket is more important than the six Tests that England have won.

The way England played was more important than the results they produced.

England's style of cricket is important to the health of Test cricket around the world.

They were correct as well. It's important for fans to want to watch England because they play more and travel more frequently.

Even though England had only won once in 17 Tests, the only people who wanted to see them play were their friends and family.

England could have reversed their results with pragmatic, attritional cricket, as they did in Australia, by demanding they conceded less than three runs an over.

The two showmen who believed that sport without entertainment is meaningless were, in fact, not likely to allow that.

The messaging has been consistent about trying to entertain and ensure that people pay money to come, turn on their TVs and listen on the radio.

Test cricket requires support and relevance. You want to get the results, but our job is to entertain and make everyone happy.

England's batters have been told to attack. Bowlers are told to ignore the score and use the tactic that is most likely to get them out. The fielders are required to chase every ball until it trickles over the rope.

Children fall in love with cricket when they first see a bat or ball. Throw yourself around trying to stop it.

The same can be said for the players. The likes of Stuart Broad, Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root have often been seen getting the crowd revved up.

The game doesn't come with any more pressure than it already does.

In the warm-up, we will tell you to be ready for 11am. We have played enough cricket to know what we need to do. You don't need to be working on your muscles.

It sounds like it is. The players have been given a clear mandate to play without fear.

There is a lot of attention to detail as well.

There was logic to England's preference to bat second in the summer when the pitches were flatter and the cricket balls softer.

Jack Leach has played every Test this summer when previous regimes would have been tempted to leave out the spinner in favour of an all-pace attack, which has made him England's number one. Rest and rotation of the seamers have been eliminated in favor of playing the strongest team possible.

Robinson used the new ball to his advantage. Broad's role as the 'Nighthawk' has led to a renewed emphasis on his batting and his most runs in a home summer since 2015.

England were able to channel their positive vibes when necessary.

The second Test win over South Africa at Old Trafford was their best performance of the summer, as they racked up 415-9 in their allotted 50 overs.

England has a challenge of distiling their approach into something that can be successful overseas while still being committed to entertaining the crowd.

Like everything else to do with this England team, the epitome of that challenge is the man.

It felt like he had decided how he was going to play before he got to the middle. He scored a century and went at a run a ball for the rest of the game, even though he was too reckless.

There are still questions hanging over opening pair ZakCrawley and Alex Lees, who will probably be itching to get out of the tricky English conditions to play somewhere that presents less new-ball danger.

While the question of extra pace remains, England need another spinner to go along with Jack Leach, given the trip to Pakistan is followed by five Tests in India. Is it possible for England to get at least one of the following?

Good will toward the England Test team has been restored. The way they have won has put credit in the bank. If and when things go wrong, they will be given a little time to regroup.

The game is about much more than just winning.

Next summer, the Aussies will take on the English. It's possible that winning and glory will go together.