England claimed their inaugural men’s Cricket World Cup trophy at Lord’s on Sunday after beating New Zealand in one of the most extraordinary cricket matches ever played. After a triumphant return to free-to-air TV, the argument that cricket was as visible as it could have been has been trounced, writes Lawrence Booth.
Lawrence Booth is editor of Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack and a cricket writer for the Daily Mail
You could, if you want, just pick your subplot. Was it Ben Stokes’s post-Kolkata, post-Bristol redemption? Was it Jofra Archer’s preternatural calm, a 24-year-old asked to do the job of a veteran? Was it Jason Roy’s run-out of Martin Guptill after two fumbles earlier in the super over?
Heck, was it the umpires’ failure to implement Law 19.8, one of those pieces of cricket pedantry that lies untouched in a dusty vault, beyond the reach even of the officials?
Was it Kane Williamson’s graciousness in defeat? (And, seriously, his performance at last night’s press conference was one for the ages.) Was it England’s outrageous luck, or New Zealand’s miserable misfortune? “Kids, don’t take up sport,” tweeted Jimmy Neesham, the man at the other end as Guptill dived in vain for his place in history. “Take up baking or something. Die at 60 really fat and happy.”
“Well, if that doesn’t get them in, nothing will.”@Phil_Wisden reflects on a truly epic #cwc19 final from Lord’s – the day that sealed Ben Stokes’ legacy. #CWC19Final #CricketWorldCup2019 https://t.co/G7Bdb9Nk5x
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) July 14, 2019
Was it all these things and more? Because there was a bigger picture at play – and thankfully the bigger picture was available for all to see on Channel 4. Early viewing figures suggest a combined peak audience on Channel 4 and Sky of 8.29 million, outdoing the fabled audience who viewed the Trent Bridge Ashes Test of 2005, until now the high-water mark of English cricket’s relationship with the telly.
Of the 8.29 million, over 5 million watched on Channel 4 – and it would have been higher had the men’s final at Wimbledon not turned into an all-time epic itself, pulling in a peak figure of 9.6 million as Federer and Djokovic tussled on Centre Court. It was also being reported that BBC Online’s coverage of the cricket was the most-hit live story in its history.
The argument that cricket was as visible as it could have been is over, for ever. Yesterday was what sport is all about. It turns out that having lots of money is only part of it.
