The shock loss to Ireland did hurt, but the players moved on quickly from that 'little blip' to focus on the road ahead, said star England all-rounder Ben Stokes after scoring a match-winning 52 in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 final against Pakistan in Melbourne on Sunday. (More Cricket News)
Stokes showed his big match prowess ꦍon👍ce again with a gritty fifty under extreme pressure to help England to their second T20 World Cup title.
He looked back on the team's memorable campaign.
"With that (defeat to Ireland) being s🧔o early in the competition, we obviously had to address it, say what had to be said and then let it go," Stokes, who was also instrumental in England's 2019 World Cup triumph, sܫaid after the five-wicket win.
"In to🔯urnaments like these you can't carry baggage with you, that was a little blip on the way, credit to Ireland for turning up and beating us⭕, but the best teams learn from their mistakes and not let it affect them," said Stokes.
England skipper Jos Buttler, who was made white-ball captain earlier this year, was all praise for his team, which has set the benchmark in 🔯limited-over cric🤪ket.
"To win the T20 World Cup now, immensely proud of everyone here. It has been a long jou♌rney and few changes, but we are reaping the rewards of how we haveꦚ played in the last few years.
"It's been a fantastic tournament. We went to Pakistan before coming here, which waꦬs a valuable time for the group and this felt a long way after the Ireland match, but the character we showed from there on in must-win games is amazing.
"He (coach Ma🍸tty Motts) has fitted in really well. We have got a few Australians in the coachin༺g staff with us in this tournament and he has led the coaching staff really well, gives the players great freedom."
Sam Curran became the first specialist bowler to win the Player of the tou🍎rnament award for taking 13 wickets in six matches.
Besides Curran, Buttler also lauded leggie Adil Rashid, who delivered with wickets in the middle over🍸s throughout the tournament including in the final.
"Huge swing in the game, that was a fantastic over from Adil. He has been ou𝓡tstanding for us in the last three games, just the guy who makes things happen and his performance was﷽ outstanding," the England skipper said.
"And that man again, Ben Stokes is there at the end. He is the ultimate competitor in anything he does and has the experience to bank on as well. He timed it perfectly, the impetus that he and Moeen Ali had just took 𒉰it away from Pakistan."
It was a rollercoaster campaign fo🌱r Pakistan who made a dramatic comeback after losing their first two games to India and Zimbabwe. The Netherlands helped them immensely by winning their final league game to knock South Africa out of the World Cup.
"Congratulations to England, they d🐟eserve to be champions and fought well. We felt like home here, got great support at every venue. Yes, we lost the first two games, but how we came in the last four games was incredible.
";I just told the boys to play our natural game, but we fell 20 runs short and the boys fought well with the ball. Our bowling is one of the best attacks in the world. Unfortunately, Shaheen's injury put us off, but that's part of the ga𝓀me," said Babar Azam inও praise of his pace attack.
