An England win today will be one of our greatest sporting triumphs... We REALLY are ALL behind you, Jonny

THE funniest thing about Jonny Bairstow’s almost-forgotten rant about the media wanting England’s national sporting teams and individuals to fail is that it could not have been further from the truth.

In fact, I’m not sure I can think of a media more supportive than this one. We have changed.

If Jonny had wanted to know about a hypercritical press, he should have researched the English football managerial tenures of Sir Bobby Robson and Graham Taylor.

Or looked up the comments of one writer for the posh papers ahead of the 1986 Ashes series in Australia (which England won).

“There are only three things wrong with this England team… they can’t bat, they can’t bowl and they can’t field.”

We are still critical – that is our job – but the first instinct is to support.

We are representative of a nation which absolutely loves its national sporting teams. And maybe that has led to a few getting off a little lightly.

Most recently, for example, the Lionesses. It would be no surprise to see a few honours flung around in the next list for the women feted in the Royal Box at Wimbledon the other day.

They came fourth in the World Cup. They did better at the 2015 edition when their financial muscle was less substantial.

They flunked a chance to take the United States into extra-time in the semi-final. For long periods of that match, they were poor, yet were feted on their return from France.

Then there are the men of Russia 2018. Looking back at my reports, and most others, it was the noblest of tournaments for Gareth Southgate’s (above) England.

But the cold light of day illuminates a blown lead against the Croats and two defeats to the Belgians. They actually did not beat anyone decent at the tournament.

So perhaps when Bairstow (above) – a couple of weeks ago – had his pop, he was subconsciously referencing the comparatively harsh scrutiny on this English cricket team.

After the defeats to Sri Lanka and Australia, I was not alone in suggesting it would be one of English sport’s biggest bottle jobs if they did not qualify for the World Cup semi-finals.

Both be f o re the tournament and during it, there has been a pressure on this English cricket team that has not been exerted on other national teams.

It comes with the territory of being the highest-ranked side and with being the host nation.

And it was cranked up with the back- to- back group- stage defeats, leaving them in that do-or-die situation. And how have they responded?

Not just with three victories on the spin, but victories getting more convincing by the game.

When Southgate’s footballers went into a World Cup semi-final against Croatia, they knew a narrow defeat would not draw any extravagant criticism. It didn’t.

Did the England cricket team know the same when they faced the Aussies on Thursday? No.

When set 224 to win at Edgbaston, would it have been human nature to throw forward and dread the reaction if they had failed to chase that mediocre target? Of course, it would.

And that is why their bold, emphatic response was so wonderful.

Now on to the final, with England long odds-on to beat New Zealand.

With those odds, with those expectations, comes cloying pressure.

And that is why a victory today will be one of the most significant performances in the recent history of English team sport.

Good luck.

We really are behind you, Jonny.