KISS THAT SAYS: WE’RE ON TOP OF THE WORLD
In one of the most nerve-shredding sports matches EVER, hero Stokes inspires England to Cricket World Cup glory
CHAMPAGNE and fireworks sprayed into the sky last night as England’s cricketers, the new world champions, fell to their knees.
An epic display of resilience, perseverance and sheer bloody-mindedness triumphed in one of the greatest matches at the home of cricket.
Lord’s – the bastion of blazers, white flannels and tradition – erupted into a cacophony of unbridled joy to the point of hysteria. Never has a match of the sport England brought to the world ended in such stupendous, nerve-shredding, nailbiting pandemonium.
At last a sporting victory that – if not quite ranking alongside England’s football World Cup heroics in 1966 – comes darned close. No more the tag of gallant losers, for so long the nearly men of world cricket.
At exactly 7.30pm, with the sun low over the St John’s Wood stadium, 11 Englishmen finally filled the void in Britain’s trophy cabinet. England – world champions at cricket after the most preposterous, tortuous and see-sawing game it is possible to imagine. Fortunes shifted and turned
with ridiculous speed. If ever there was a game to sum up the unpredictability and capriciousness of sport, this was it. It had everything, unprecedented drama, heartbreak and sheer heart-stopping passion.
When the moment came England’s newest sporting gods couldn’t take it in. They needed the roar of a full house here, the screams of exhilaration. It was matched at the fan-zone in Trafalgar Square and elsewhere around the country with a great outpouring of national gratitude – and relief.
In years to come the history books will simply record this as an England victory over New Zealand. But it was far more than that.
And it will become one of those epic moments when people – asked about July 14, 2019 – will want to say, ‘I was there.’
A cacophony of delirious noise descended on Lord’s. And in the middle of it all, were the two figures who did as much as anything to bring cricket home
Both were born far from these shores – Ben Stokes, the tattooed tough guy, in New Zealand, and Jofra Archer who spent the first 18 years of his life in Barbados.
But last night they were being hailed as heroes of England just as Bobby Moore and Geoff Hurst were 53 summers ago.
In fact, this England team will not want to single out any one player – each and every one vital cogs in a machine that looked for a moment, when it mattered most, like it was going to splutter to a halt.
But that they got over the line at the end of a ‘super over’ of sudden-death cricket after the scores were tied, was down to these two remarkable young men. Stokes with his bludgeoning bat and Archer with his smooth assilk run-up and delivery of a ball that denied New Zealand their chance of glory.
Gut-wrenching for the black-clad Kiwis who were within a single run of victory but euphoria for the men in light blue. Pulsating, absorbing and in a way utterly ridiculous. Nothing could separate these two teams – they had fought each other to an epic draw.
But there has to be a winner. So after 50 overs each of outstanding cricket they came back for a do-or-die over of six balls each. The team with the most runs would win.
Who else could England turn to but Stokes? In his six years as an England player he has been hero and villain. But yesterday he was something else – a man of steel, Superman even. His team crumbled around him as he strained every sinew to get them over the line. By the end he was almost on his knees with exhaustion, his eyes rimmed with sweat, dirt and fatigue.
But he stepped forward to lead the charge. Together with Jos Buttler, another of England’s superstars, they posted 15 runs from their six balls. Step forward Archer, the youngest, most callow member of this remarkable team. Rather than the experience of, say, Chris Woakes, captain Eoin Morgan went for Archer’s sublime speed.
He did not disappoint, though it was only with the very last ball that the win was reached. Had New Zealand made two runs, it would have been they and not England in cricketing heaven.
Afterwards Stokes spoke for the nation: ‘I don’t think there will be a better game of cricket in history.’
He was not exaggerating. As a sporting contest this was unmatched, tipping first one way then another.
England had come to Lord’s as massive favourites. They were playing at home in front of a huge, partisan crowd and on the back of a magnificent demolition of Australia in the semi-finals. The stars were surely aligned for the home side to finally do what they have never done in their history. The last time they were even in a final was 27 years ago when Prince Andrew was still married to Sarah Ferguson.
Yesterday Andrew, long since divorced, was there representing his mother the Queen. Buckingham Palace released a statement from her after the pulsating match: ‘Prince Philip and I send our warmest congratulations to the England men’s cricket team after such a thrilling victory. I also extend my commiserations to the runners-up New Zealand, who competed so admirably in today’s contest and throughout the tournament.’
Prime Minister Theresa May was also there. She loves her cricket and pretty soon she will be able to spend much more time following the sport as she prepares to leave Downing Street.
The ground was packed
with supporters of every stripe. Indians and Australians making as much noise as the fans of the two competing teams. There was all sorts of entertainment that cricketing bods think they need to provide these days – an electric guitar wizard who played at the fall of every wicket, the Red Devils parachute team and the ubiquitous streaker. The touts had a field day. I saw a ticket changing hands for £500, others were going for £3,000. I also saw the heartbreak of a young man being turned away after he shelled out £300 for what was a forgery.
The ground was festooned with Union flags and as the tension ratcheted up they were waved increasingly frantically. In past encounters between these teams, the members wearing their egg and tomato ties and garish jackets would have watched proceedings from their famous redoubt, the Pavilion, with polite applause.
Not yesterday, on the greatest day of English cricket.
WHAT a finish! What a team! England’s last-ball victory in the cricket World Cup final epitomised the very best in sport. Two evenly- matched and spirited teams battling to the end in a thrilling and nail-biting struggle.
how fitting that it was shown on terrestrial television, where all could watch. If young people are to be attracted to cricket, this should become the norm, not the exception.
We must hope that schools will also play their part in reviving the game. For boys and girls alike.
This was a glorious victory. Let’s hope it will also be an inspiration – and a springboard for even greater success.