Super Over kept the excitement going

Interview/ Derek Pringle, World Cup finalist (1992)

CRICKET-WC-2019-ENG-NZL-FINAL England team celebrates after they win the super over to win the 2019 Cricket World Cup final between England and New Zealand at Lord's Cricket Ground in London | AFP

A FEW HOURS after the English victory at Lord’s, Derek Pringle sat savouring the moment, the smile never leaving his face. He was wearing the vintage England shirt sent by the England and Wales Cricket Board to all members of the 1992 World Cup team, which played the finals. The former England medium pacer was delighted that the result was different this time. In an exclusive interview with THE WEEK, Pringle reflected on the final, the turnaround brought about by captain Eoin Morgan, what the win means for England and how he managed to cope with the dramatic climax. Excerpts:

Q/ How does it feel to see the Cup finally coming home?

A/ I am very pleased. They have been the number one side in the world for some time now and they got their just deserts. I feel terribly sorry for New Zealand to lose in those circumstances, but I suppose the Super Over kept the excitement going for the crowd, making it a thrilling finale.

Q/ When New Zealand nosed ahead, did you think England could still pull it off?

A/ Oh yeah! They bat very deep. Chris Woakes is pretty much used to such performances, and could give Ben Stokes support. Stokes has added another facet to his game. We all knew he is very talented. But, when he started, he was very headstrong. Now he has become a thinking, mature player.

Q/ Were you surprised when Morgan asked Jofra Archer to bowl the Super Over?

A/ I was a bit surprised, because Archer is so young and relatively inexperienced. But he is a fantastic talent and has had a fantastic World Cup. Morgan is Irish, and he likes a gamble. Morgan and coach Trevor Bayliss are peas in a pod and they do not get too excited.

Q/ Both captains were very calm under pressure, and were leaders on and off the field.

A/Morgan deserves praise because he persuaded the team to play a very aggressive form of cricket, persuaded them to keep going even when they fell occasionally. Kane Williamson also deserves praise because New Zealand entered the finals playing on two cylinders. They did not play their best cricket in the league phase. They played their best cricket in the final. The bowling was better, but their batting—it revolved around Williamson. He is a little miracle worker.