IT was almost 54 years ago that I was one among the 98,000 crowd at Wembley when England, for the first and last time, won the football World Cup beating West Germany 4-2. At the final whistle the score was 2-2 when in the extra time Geoff Hurst of England hit the German goal bar and the ball fell on the line instead of going past it in the goal which was controversially awarded to England and sealed the fate of the final.

On Sunday at Lord’s when England won the cricket World Cup for the first time, the circumstances in that nail-biting finish in which England won because of hitting more boundaries than the New Zealanders was very similar to that football World Cup row.

Chasing New Zealand’s 241 for 8, England were bowled out at the same total for a first ever tie in the competition and when it came to the ‘Super Over’, the result was similar as the crowd stood on their feet holding their breath not really knowing the outcome of the game, whether it will go in favour of England or New Zealand.

The weird rules of the game, however, ruled in favour of England because they had hit more boundaries than the Kiwis. In fact the game should have been awarded to the Kiwis for losing lesser wickets than England. That makes sense and that is how the law should be. To win a match by hitting more fours is beyond my belief and this strange law has got to be changed to bring some sanity to the way this game is conducted.

It would make sense too that when in an attempt to run out a batsman, the throw somehow hits the bat of one of the strikers, the overthrow runs should not be allowed and that the ball should be called a ‘dead ball’. It certainly is unfair that whether intentionally or otherwise the throw hits the bat of a striker and runs are taken as it happened in the deciding moments of the final.

But to be fair, I feel privileged to have witnessed both football and cricket final wins for England. This was their fourth attempt in a World Cup final if we consider the 1979, 1987 and 1992 finals when they lost to West Indies, Australia and Pakistan at Lord’s, Eden Gardens and the MCG respectively.

To have lost to Sri Lanka, Australia and Pakistan in the initial rounds and make a comeback to be in the reckoning again, they did a great job for themselves.

Had Pakistan, after beating England, New Zealand and South Africa, maintained a better run rate they could have been amongst the finalists with a bit of luck.

But let us not take the credit away from New Zealand and its sensible and calm captain Kane Williamson and his team and from England for their presence in the final because no doubt both deserved the way they played their cricket. New Zealand were unlucky and Eoin Morgan’s England were good enough to be the winners. The two played sensational cricket to be remembered for times to come.

This was my ninth world cup final out of twelve so far and the most exciting and entertaining one indeed.

I also feel that the ICC has got to change the format of the World Cup. It was too long and a bit of a drag. It is surely not easy to organise such events as successfully as they did but what really disappointed me was the fact that their contracted officials looking after the media accreditation were far from convincing as their system kept the media men on tenterhooks till the last moment to know their fate about covering a certain match like semi-final or the final.

On the eve of the final there were journalists, and senior ones too, who did not know if they will be doing the final or not. I was informed late on the eve of the match that I will be covering the final and the accreditation has been approved.

There were great number of accredited media men were not given that privilege and were kept away from Lord’s and that included - to my disbelief — the deputy of the Wisden Almanack’, the bible of the game. And that I suppose is ridiculous if one does not know what Wisden is.

Also I was shocked at media accreditation given to people who had nothing to do with this game and had never been seen on a cricket circuit ever. There were shopkeepers, oncologists, political analysists hanging around with media accreditation. I would have had someone from the ICC media cell with the knowledge about the mediamen to vet their accreditations.

In the 1999 world cup the contracted organisation to look after the media had sought my help in London to keep the cowboys of the game away.

Nevertheless, I was honoured to be a part of this pulsating World Cup final and pleased for England the winners and New Zealand for their wonderful effort.

Published in Dawn, July 16th, 2019