Adil Rashid has spoken of an “unbelievable feeling” as he basks in World Cup glory.
The Yorkshire all-rounder is celebrating England’s maiden one-day crown, secured in remarkable fashion in Sunday’s Lord’s final against New Zealand.
Rashid described the nerves in the final stages of a match which finished tied after 50 overs and then again after a Super Over, with England eventually winning on most boundaries scored throughout the day.
But the 31-year-old Bradfordian, a two-time County Championship winner with the White Rose, insists the England dressing room always believed they would get over the line.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling. It’s not sunk in yet – it’s a surreal feeling, winning the World Cup for the first time for England in cricket history,” he said.
“It’s a big achievement for myself, family, wife, kids. But also, it’s a big achievement from the team point of view. It’s quite emotional in the sense that it was all down to this final game, all down to the final over.
“It’s been a good ride, it’s been an emotional time, but ultimately it’s been a great feeling. It’s a dream come true.“When you’re a youngster you watch the World Cup and just imagine yourself and wish ‘one day I hope I play there.’
“That became reality – not just playing it, but winning it. You see it, it’s all about the World Cup, people are remembered for their World Cup wins.
“The teams are remembered for the World Cup wins.
“This achievement, this for myself being a Bradfordian, it’s a big achievement.
“It means a lot to myself, the wife, kids, mum, dad, family, everybody – it means a lot to all them, all the sacrifices made over the years.
“But also the people of Bradford. It shows how things are possible.
“How people can come from nowhere, in terms of cricket, and become world champions. Not just become, but take a big part of that, playing all the games and taking part over the four years.
“It’s been a great journey, it’s been emotional, but it’s been well worth it.”
Exactly 24 hours ago, England were crowned world champions, after the final to end all finals.
Re-live the greatest finish of all time, as you've never seen it before!#CWC19Final | #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/SHrgguTI75— ICC (@ICC) July 15, 2019
Rashid claimed 11 wickets in as many appearances throughout a tournament dominated by seam. Only India leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal claimed more wickets than Rashid with 12.
His best of 3-54 came in the semi-final win over Australia at Edgbaston last Thursday as they were bowled out for 223 to set up a thumping England win.
In the final, Rashid returned 0-39 from eight overs in helping to restrict New Zealand to 241-8 before coming to the crease with tension at fever pitch when England were 227-8 needing 15 off the last over and with Ben Stokes on strike.
He was the running partner in the overthrow incident which inadvertently brought England an extra four runs off the bat of Stokes following a Martin Guptill throw from the deep and then sacrificed his wicket running a second with England needing three from two balls.
Rashid continued: “It doesn’t compare to any T20 competition, no IPL, no nothing.
“This is the world stage, this is the pinnacle of cricket, the highest level. Pressure-wise as well.
“When I came out to bat, we knew we needed 15 off the last over, something like that, Stokes was batting.
“In the dressing room, we had that belief, knowing that if one of the players was still out there – Stokesy was out there at the time, if he stayed until the end – we’ve got a great chance.
“I knew what I had to do. I had to sacrifice my wicket for him to be on strike, that’s why the run out came.
“That was the main thing, and that was a good thing that happened because that then gave us the chance to win the game.
“It was nerve-wracking. I’m sure people watching were all nervous thinking, ‘Oh my God, they’ve not done it, it’s happened again, we’ve not gone through’.
“But we had that belief, and we got it down to the super-over because Stokesy played a great knock for us to get to that.”
