It's been a terrific tournament, overall, with all sorts of twists and turns. Even the English summer weather was a player, who played his part.
But — I'm sorry, I'll get pelters for being a glum bugger — but I have to find the winning by virtue of more boundaries a lousy, meaningless rule. England rightly win it by virtue of (I think) more victories than anyone else over the whole tournament (or at least certainly more victories than the Kiwis), or by virtue of the best run rate, if you like. Those are meaningful to me. Getting more boundaries than the other side in a match? Sorry, but that means nothing, at least not to me.
Don't get me wrong: absolutely buzzing about England finally being World Champions in my lifetime. And they are rightly so. They are the world's best one-day team, until further notice. I was jumping around like anyone yesterday. And it confirmed once again that when cricket works, it is easily as exciting as any other sport in the world.
For me, the most deeply satisfying form of the game is, and always will be, the five day Test match. But I know I'm in a dwindling minority on that. If you're able to get to the match every day (and it's a long, long time since that's been the case for me) you go through — how can I put it? — an entire episode of your life. And a five match series of five day matches, when every match is fiercely contested every single day? Wonderful stuff! Bring on the Aussies against the World Champions. Bring it on…