ICC World Cup 2019: A golden year for England

From the agony of getting knocked out in the group stage of World Cup 2015 to the ecstasy of winning their maiden title win in World Cup 2019, England has gone through everything in these four years. They were the first favorites to lift the trophy from the start of the tournament and here they are!

Playing their first final after 27 years, England refused to get rolled over in the final that went down to wire against New Zealand who was equally desperate to lift the trophy and engrave their names for the first time on the cup.

A cricket frenzy can’t ask for more than what Lord’s witnessed on Sunday- a befitting final between two sides-England and New Zealand – who had never won the title before that ended with a tie, a first time super over in ODIs that too ended with a tie! Well, the game had to end somewhere and it was when the hosts England were asked to lift their maiden World Cup trophy on the back of hitting more boundaries across their 51 overs of batting.

“I can’t believe we have got over the line,” was how Eoin Morgan described it. So, let’s have a quick on to what made England – the World Champions.

From a group-stage exit in 2015, to world champions in 2019. It's been quite a journey.#CWC19Final | #WeAreEngland pic.twitter.com/V8VC8pXL9K

— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) July 14, 2019

The change in approach

After a heartbreaking exit in Australia in 2015, the world saw a change in their game plan. From playing conventional cricket and giving preference to test cricket, England adapted attacking mindset and prioritized ODIs to become No. 1 ODI side in world cricket.

Playing in home conditions, they were more competitive this time than the rest of the World Cup editions. They failed to make it even to the semifinals across six consecutive editions, but this time they were hot favorites.

What mattered the most?

An explosive batting line up that could bat till Adil Rashid coming at number 9 combined with a disciplined bowling attack that comprises of six bowling options headed with a calm and composed skipper in Eoin Morgan.

Most runs scored per over since WC 2015

Most runs for England in a World Cup:

Joe Root – 556 runs & Jonny Bairstow – 532 runs

Previous best – Graham Gooch – 471 runs in 1987

Most hundreds scored in a World Cup:

In the 2019 World Cup: England slammed seven hundred

Previous most: Two each in 1975, 1983, 2007 and 2015

Most 100-plus partnerships in a World Cup:

In 2019 World Cup – England registered 11 100-plus partnerships which are most by a team in any World Cup edition

Most wickets in a World Cup

Jofra Archer – 20 wickets

Previous best: Ian Botham – 16 wickets in 1992

– Archer was drafted to play for England right ahead of the World Cup and Barbadian-born became the leading wicket-taker for England in a World Cup edition

Delivering at the hour of need

Ben Stokes – 465 runs & 7 scalps including 5 fifties