"England won, end of the story"- Kevin Pietersen On the Controversial 2019 World Cup Final

England Cricket has gone through a major transformation in white-ball cricket in the past five years. The current ODI world champions were long guilty of not treating white-ball cricket with respect. All of that changed with their exit from the group stages of the 2015 World Cup following a humiliating defeat to Bangladesh.

Post the 2015 debacle, England, under the leadership of captain Eoin Morgan and head coach Trevor Bayliss, proceeded to break the shackles of conservativeness and embarked on a new style of play where cricketers were given the license to express themselves and attack, attack and attack.

And, the result is for everyone to see. England, in a space of four years, transformed from being an outdated side to becoming the trendsetters as far as modern-day white-ball cricket is concerned.

Kevin Pietersen on the controversy that ensued post-England’s World Cup final win

And, former English batsman, Kevin Pietersen also feels the change in approach with regards to white-ball cricket had led to the ‘Three Lions’ becoming one of the most feared sides in the world and ultimately world champions.

“They changed the way one day cricket was played. There was a complete change in their approach compared to 2015 and every other World Cup that England have ever played in. They were positive, positive, positive, positive and they had a fear factor and an aura leading into that World Cup,” Kevin Pietersen told Times Now.

England went into the 2019 World Cup as massive favorites and while they did went on to justice to the tag and were eventually crowned world champions, the manner in which the final ended, left a sour taste in everyone’s mouth.

Needing 15 runs off the last six balls, England got a major reprieve when a throw ricocheted off Ben Stokes’ bat and went for a boundary. The game was eventually tied, as was the Super-Over, and England were awarded winners of the World Cup final on the back of the boundary count rule.

Kevin Pietersen was asked about his views on the controversy that ensued in the final and the right-hander shrugged it off by saying that there is no point in thinking about it now.

“England won, end of the story, no point thinking about it now,” Pietersen added.

England went on to become only the third side in history to win a World Cup on home soil.

Also Read: 2019 World Cup Final Was The Best Game Of Cricket That Has Ever Been Played: Eoin Morgan