REACHING a first World Cup final in 27 years is a special achievement. But to do so in such style, brutalising a hapless Australia with almost embarrassing ease made it all the sweeter.
Aaron Finch’s men came into this tournament as the defending champions but they were dethroned in ruthless as fashion as England rose to the occasion at a rocking Edgbaston to extend their winning run in all formats at this Birmingham bear pit to 11 matches.
The prize is a shot at history against New Zealand at Lord’s today – a first-ever World Cup win now tantalisingly close.
To do so would be a remarkable achievement after the nadir of the 2015 tournament in Australia and New Zealand, when England were dumped out in the first round after a series of hapless performances was capped off with a humiliating defeat by Bangladesh in Adelaide.
“If you had offered us the position to play in a final the day after we were knocked out of the last World Cup, I would have laughed at you,” admitted Morgan. “It sums up how far we have come in the last four years. Everyone should take a huge amount of credit.”
This aggressive, pro-active and brave performance embodied everything that has been good about England during their renaissance over the past four years.
It was summed up by yet another century opening stand between Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow, the pair having already achieved the feat in those must-win final group matches against India and New Zealand.
Roy, in particular was brilliant, crashing 85 from 65 balls as he took down Australia’s attack with the kind of bravado not seen by an England player since the days of Kevin Pietersen.
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