In the end, players who have previously been marginalised, sidelined and discarded came good at just the right time
After days of dire forecasts, it was unexpected to even have a T20 World Cup final. Angry cartoon thunderstorms failed to deliver on a night that felt warm and humid enough to bring them on. India supporters had expected to see their team but their semi-final knockout didn’t have the expected hit on crowds, with more than 80,000 still in attendance at Melbourne’s giant arena. As Pakistan fans filed out, post-match presentations offered a manufactured euphoria of ascending Coldplay choruses while gold glitter covered the grass, shimmering like a fleeting nightclub dream. The real euphoria was among the England squad, whose podium appearance was one of the least expected things of all.
A month ago, England had a claim to be T20 World Cup favourites. This was not the domineering side that Eoin Morgan had led, with Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow wreaking carnage on the regular. Patching had been required. But there was still destructive batting, varied bowling, and the Morgan legacy of aggression. Their preparation saw them go head to head with Pakistan during a pulsating seven-match series, then come to Australia for three matches to beat a second good side on its home turf.
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