PM hails England's World Cup as 'one of great sporting spectacles of our time'
The prime minister describes Sunday's World Cup final thriller as "not just cricket at its best but sport at its best".
Monday 15 July 2019 20:57, UK
Theresa May lifted the cricket World Cup with skipper Eoin Morgan as she welcomed England's heroes to Downing Street.
The victorious team posed with the beaming prime minister before heading to the No 10 garden for a celebratory drinks reception after Sunday's historic World Cup win.
And addressing the England players and staff, she told them: "The final was not just cricket at its best but sport at its best - courage, character, sportsmanship, drama, incredible skill and even the odd slice of luck...
"All combining to create a real thriller, one of the great sporting spectacles of our time.
"It was a fitting end to what has been a great tournament - and I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in once again making our country a sporting showcase for the world."
Earlier they met fans at The Oval to hail "one of the best games of all time".
The squad showed off their new silverware as they walked out at the central London ground in front of hundreds of fans.
England won the World Cup in stunning fashion, taking it to the last ball of a super over to snatch victory from the Black Caps.
Speaking to Sky News, England captain Joe Root said the drama of the finale made it "one of the best games of cricket of all time".
He said: "We just wanted to enjoy the moment... it was so much hard work and you go through so much as a group, you've got to make sure you enjoy the experience."
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Root added that he hoped the triumph would inspire a new generation of cricketers.
"You can't ask for a better advert than yesterday's game, it's probably the most exciting game that I've ever been involved in or witnessed... it is a great way to inspire a nation," he said.
Jofra Archer was entrusted to bowl in the super over that sealed the win for England, and the 24-year-old said he was grateful that captain Eoin Morgan put his trust in him for the last six balls.
"He (Eoin Morgan) knew, even without me saying - I had to go and double check and say 'Morgs, am I bowling?' and he was like 'yeah yeah yeah' so its nice to know that he trusts me when there's so much riding on it," he said.
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Talking about the squad, Jofra added: "We had the intensity from the very start leading up to the tournament and then it was just about how we played as a group.
"After this I think the guys will be a lot closer as a team with the T20 World Cup next year... who says we can't go and win that as well?"
Former England cricketer Mark Butcher told Sky's Kay Burley the final was "unbelievable entertainment", adding: "I've never seen anything like it".
He said: "The players gave absolutely everything - the skill they had to show to make a game out of it, on a surface that I think was very poor for a World Cup final, is just a staggering testament to how all 22 of them were yesterday."
The celebrations will not stop at The Oval, with Theresa May set to host the team from 7pm at 10 Downing Street.
In a statement she congratulated the World Cup champions, saying: "Yesterday was a brilliant performance by a brilliant team. They showed flair, charisma and absolute determination.
"The achievement delivered in such a thrilling style on home soil will be remembered forever in our sporting history.
"It's also exciting to think just how many children will be inspired by this victory to pick up a cricket bat for the first time and hopefully become the great cricketers and World Cup winners of tomorrow."
Root and the rest of the squad get a short break before training begins in earnest for The Ashes, which starts on 1 August, when England pick up their Test rivalry against Australia at Edgbaston in Birmingham.