Watch: The 2019 World Cup final has been etched in cricketing folklore as one of the greatest ODIs ever played – amid all the incredible twists and turns, few probably recall the Mitchell Santner leave that might have played a crucial role in the final result.

Much before the game was tied, and went into the Super Over, New Zealand scrambled their way to 241-8 in their 50 overs, a score England eventually matched after being all out.

In the tight game, where every dot ball mattered, Santner’s leave in the 50th over of New Zealand’s innings isn’t remembered as much. Off the final ball, bowled by Jofra Archer, Santner ducked to a short-pitched delivery, which gave England a crucial dot ball.

Now, Santner can’t really be blamed, for Archer’s pace can be deceptive, but it did turn out to be anti-climactic finish to New Zealand’s innings. Santner even considered attempting a bye, but decided against it, with Archer conceding just four runs off the 50th.

The harmless miss eventually turned out to be crucial in the context of the finish – Adil Rashid was run out off the penultimate delivery, and Mark Wood off the last, leaving England at 241 all out. In the Super Over that followed, Martin Guptill was run out off the last ball in their chase of 16, giving England the World Cup on boundary count, ICC’s preferred tie-breaker at that time.

There are several moments through that game that have become iconic since: the five overthrows off Ben Stokes’ bat, Trent Boult’s catch over the boundary line, Ian Smith’s iconic words signalling the tie, and Jos Buttler’s run out of Guptill. One can only wonder what would have happened, had Santner managed runs off that delivery.

Then again, just like Marvel Comics, you could play out and entire series of what-ifs over that one incredible game.

Related tags:

Mitchell Santner