England fall just short in high scoring semi-final thriller

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You're listening to the TMS Podcast from BBC Radio 5 Live. Here comes Dube, final ball of the game. It's been hit away into the offside. It's been hit away for 6, but it is not quite enough. India win by 7 runs.

It is India's game.

They are heading to the final of the T20 World Cup. England head home. So India are heading to the T20 World Cup final to face New Zealand. On Sunday in Ahmedabad, after a game that saw one shy of 500 runs scored on a sweltering Mumbai evening, the flattest of flat pitches. India hitting 253 for 7 and England 246 for 7 in response, with Jacob Bethell scoring 105 off 48, but ultimately his efforts in vain as India make it through to the final of the T20 World Cup. A night of high drama, high run scoring, but ultimately success for the tournament hosts and favorites. So much to reflect on, so many celebrations for India who have an opportunity to do what no side has done and win the trophy for a third time and retain the trophy as well. And no host has ever won the T20 World Cup, so So much on the line for India, who have now booked their place in the final in Ahmedabad against a New Zealand side who will have watched on as fascinated as the rest of us by this extraordinary game of cricket. Stephen Finn, Ash's winning fast bowler, alongside me, as is Abhishek Janjan Waller. We'll get reaction from both sides shortly, but Stephen, first of all, England at the halfway stage set 254 for victory. It always felt like it was going to be very, very difficult, but goodness me, they gave it a good go.

Yep, gave it a good go. And I think you look at the fielding— Atish Patel's two catches were a significant turning point, and a big difference between the two teams was that catching Harry Brook's drop and the reprieve of Sanju Samson on 15, and him going on to make the runs that he did within the context of that first innings meant that India posted an unbelievably challenging total. But The way that England went about chasing it, again, the opening partnership faltered and didn't make the most of the power play. But Jacob Bethell coming in at number 4 today, played a quite stupendous knock, really, 105 from 48. And people batted around him with cameos from Butler, Jacks, Curran at the end, all threatened to drag that total in. And it felt as though England were in the game all the way through that second innings. It just felt as though they were within touching distance But then you factor in the Jasprit Bumrah effect and the 18th over that he bowled that only went for 6. To only go for 8.25 an over as he did today versus what everyone else has gone for, again, was a great effort on his part. A great, great fast bowler. So yeah, England will leave this game with disappointment and think of what might have been had that catch been taken inside that first power play and how different it might have been. But ultimately India handled the pressure very well.

They did, and there was pressure. England did a brilliant job at applying that, but in the end, though they got close, not quite close enough. Winning the toss, electing to field first, England. And though the highest losing chase total in T20 international cricket— that makes sense— the highest total in the second innings in T20 International cricket unsuccessful, if you see what I'm saying. 73 boundaries, the most ever seen in any T20 World Cup match. The stats will keep on coming in. We'll get some reaction for you shortly, but England winning the toss, bowling first, getting the early wicket of Abhishek Sharma, second over for 9.

Then Sanju Samson, he is player of the match, speaking to none other than Sanju Samson for his 89 from 42. Sanju back to Back-to-back half-centuries, back-to-back Player of the Match performances in a World Cup semi-final. What does this mean?

Yeah, feels really great, uh, to be honest. I kind of knew that I got some form going from the last game, so I thought I need to continue. I think it's not easy you find form at the crucial games for your country, so I thought big game, I need to make most out of how I am batting. So I gave myself an extra time, I, I think calculated my innings a bit, I prepared really well, and I think things came off nicely. Got a bit lucky to start off and then Yeah, I think I just wanted to carry on. I think knowing playing in Wankhede, we know that no score is, uh, stoppable here. So I just wanted to get as much as possible runs as possible. Even 250 looked like, uh, chaseable here, and England played really well. I think all credit goes to how they batted, and we really had a great semi-final.

You talked a little bit about how your innings progressed there. How much more different is it chasing well as you did against the West Indies and now setting this total up for your team?

Yeah, as I told before, I think you need to, I think, assess the conditions. I think, you know, we have played a lot of cricket here in Wankhede. As I said before, chasing becomes a bit easier here. They won the toss, put us into bat, so we knew after the way we batted, I think the way myself and Ishan batted, the partnership which we had for after Abhishek got out, I thought that I think 250 should be, I think, possible here. So I think that's what we were talking about in the dressing room as well. So yeah, very happy how the team turned up today, and all credit goes to Jasprit Bumrah. I think the world-class bowler, once in a generation bowler, I think that's what he delivered today. I think this should go to him actually. So I think if he didn't bowl that way in the death overs, I think I would not be standing here. So all credit goes to the bowlers, how they backed themselves in the tough conditions.

Spoken as a true leader. What does this crowd mean to you guys tonight?

Oh wow, I think as you have witnessed here, sir, I think it's an unbelievable feeling to play in Wankhede right from childhood. I think the way people support actually both the Indian team and also the England team, I think there was real supporters of the cricket as well. So really enjoy playing here, but I think we wanted to put in a positive result for them, but very happy results actually made them happy today.

I know a number of fans and supporters will be asking, 97 and 89, you haven't quite gotten the 100. Does that matter to you?

I think not at all, sir. I think 100, I think, you know, 100, actually you can't actually score 100. It actually comes in the process of, uh, you actually, you can't actually, it's not a Test game, it's not an ODI game where you can go up and down, up and down. Once you have got the start, you're batting first, there is no other way, you just have to keep going hard, hard, hard. And once you, I think, end up on the right side, who knows, I think, which amount of runs I'm getting. So I'm very happy to get whatever I'm getting and very happy to contribute on the winning side for my country.

And the country is very happy for you, Sanju. Thank you very much for your time. Very well done.

Thank you.

Satchio Samson, player of the match for India, having scored 89. I like that question. Abhishek Jhunwala, well, you've scored 97 not out and then 89. What about the 100? But yeah, you know, he rode his luck early on with that drop catch on 15, but played brilliantly well. And India, they were so strong with the bat. Goodness, the number of runs we scored, seen scored, it was astonishing.

Yeah, I mean, I don't remember witnessing a game like this, to be honest, in a World Cup semi-final. And it went close, uh, and, and you need something like this. You want a game to go down to the wire, you want the game to go that close for the, for the, for the tournament, for the supporters, just for overall for the cricket. And it was, it was an absolute sight, to be honest. What a game we had. And this will, this will be etched in people's memory, not just In Wonkare, I think around the world who, who support cricket, who are cricket fans, cricket lovers, they will remember this game for a very, very long time, Andrew.

Well, it's an immense privilege to have been here to watch it, I have to say. And the fans that are beginning to drift out heading towards Marine Drive will be partying long into the night, not just because they've seen an India win, because they've seen an absolute feast of run scoring as well. And there is No greater currency in, in this part of the world in T20 cricket than the currency of the ball flying over the boundary. And, uh, and we saw the ball going to all parts as, uh, 34 times the ropes were cleared, a record for a T20 World Cup match. Just incredible hitting everywhere you looked. But it's so often, Stephen, we look for certainty and narrative at the end of a tour or a tournament where you can say, well, they lost and they didn't get through because there were failings. And I remember having that conversation with you after England were eliminated in Guyana from the last T20 World Cup. But they can leave tonight with their heads held pretty high, I think.

Yeah, and I think within the context of that World Cup they played in 2024, um, that they played poorly throughout the tournament, didn't they? They never looked like themselves. They didn't grow through the tournament, um, and they didn't have a particular style of play, it didn't feel. Whereas the way that England have come through this tournament, they've done white ball series against Sri Lanka before, winning both of those, stumbling through the group stage a little bit, but still doing enough to get through, which is all you have to do, winning all 3 games in the Super 8s and then losing here in a really high-scoring game to the strongest by far team in the tournament is no shameful way to exit a world tournament. So, you know, the inquisition that was inevitable at the end of that last World Cup, the last T20 World Cup that we covered, um, that 2 years ago, or less than 2 years ago, isn't it, 18 months ago. Um, I don't feel the same here. I feel like England can be really proud about the way that they played. Um, they just really regret that one dropped catch from Harry Brook. That, that literally is the turning point in the game.

Do you think they win the game if he takes that catch, Steve?

Well, I don't necessarily think they, they win it. It just changes the dynamic of it, doesn't it? The way that India were able to control the way that they sent Shivam Dubey up to bat against the wrist spin and the left-arm spin of Dawson. It means that it doesn't afford India the luxury to be able to move the chess pieces as they want to in that first innings. If you take early wickets, it puts pressure on that middle order to have to build an innings, and it doesn't allow them to play with the freedom that they did that drags them to the total of 253. It probably Settles beyond 200 still, but a lot closer to the 200 mark than the 250 mark. And in an instance like that, it just means that everything has to go absolutely perfectly for England in the second innings for them to chase it. And you have to factor in Jasprit Bumrah, but Akshar Patel's two catches that he took of Harry Brook and then Will Jacks, wasn't it? The two outstanding catches of people who have had excellent tournaments, probably England's two best players in this tournament with the bat in hand. Until that Jacob Bethell innings today was the difference in the game, I feel.

Yeah, on such moments games can turn, Abhishek. And there was just a feeling around the ground as that catch went down, oh, this could be problematic. And then 89 off 42 balls really did emphasize that from Sanju Samson.

Yeah, I think we will talk a lot about the boundaries and the fours and the sixes and the amount of run being scored in this game, but I think this game was won because of the fielding, because of those two catches, as Finney mentioned earlier, Akshar Patel, and the ground fielding. I think England at least have given 7 to 8 runs through misfield, which India didn't. India were excellent in the field. They took all their chances, even the final run out from Hardik Pandya to get rid of Jacob Bethell. They're all small things, but it makes such a huge impact in the game. And also a special mention to Suryakumar Yadav for his captaincy. The way he used Jasprit Bumrah, and to have that courage to have two different bowlers bowl the last two overs, and the way he just used his resources, I think he did an excellent work with his captaincy as well.

Yeah, and, uh, the little moments like that and ensuring that the extras are minimized, and in a high-scoring game it could be the small margins that the that really do get you over the line. There were 12 extras in India's innings, 13 in England's, but in that sense it wasn't too much of a difference. But it was just little moments in the field that you do feel, uh, there was a significant difference that, that did help India get over the line. At no point in the game were England favorites according to win predictor, and for most of the innings in the run chase it was around about 95 to 98 in India's favor. So the fact that England got as close as they did, 7 runs, uh, the margin of victory in the end, is a remarkable credit to England, who lost early wickets. Phil Salt for 5, and then, uh, as well as that, they, uh, they saw Harry Brook out for just 7. 38 for 2 at that point. Joss Butler scored 25 off 17 but never really looked fluent, uh, but they kept on going. Will Jacks, Tom Banton with good contributions and sort of keeping that momentum going. Sam Curran didn't quite manage to find his rhythm with 18 off 14, but we will get more into, into the conversation around Jacob Bethell shortly with the second highest score at this World Cup, only behind the, the 100 that Canada's Samra scored against the finalists New Zealand, the 110 that he scored. But 100 5 from Jacob Bethel is, is an astonishing effort, it has to be said. He played supremely well, uh, given the fact that, that the pressure was on, the wickets had fallen, and that he was able to keep that momentum going with 105 off 48 deliveries. Only run out in the end scrambling that single that he was trying to make into 2, and he couldn't quite do it. And in the end, it was, uh, it was the run out that saw the end of his innings. But it was a brilliant, brilliant performance from Bethell, and 280 runs in the tournament, of course a big contribution of those coming today. But absolutely sensational effort from Jacob Bethell. We're just waiting to hear from the captains. I can see at the far end of the ground Harry Brook and Suryakumar Yadav getting ready to get stuck into the post-match presentation alongside Ian Bishop. So we will be hearing reaction shortly. We'll also hear from Brendan McCullum at some stage, the England head coach, whose future— well, I think there'll still be question marks around it, but it's not quite as decisive a result in this game one way or the other really to tell us what that future will necessarily look like. But that's perhaps a conversation for another day because there is so much to digest from this game. Prakash Wakanka is going to join us in just a moment., as well. But our semi-finals are concluded. South Africa have beaten— have been beaten by New Zealand by 9 wickets. India have beaten England by 7 runs. And so it is a New Zealand-India final to be played in Ahmedabad.

Here is Harry Brook alongside the captains now. Congratulations to India, they progress to the final of this ICC Men's T20 World Cup. A win by 7 runs. Harry Brook, England's captain, is here with me. Harry, just on reflection, if we start from the top, conditions here look very good. There's no dew whatsoever. As you reflect on the toss and choosing to field as you did as a team back in 2024, what are your thoughts?

Yeah, we just thought that there might have been a little bit of hold early on with the pitch being fresh, and yeah, we were expecting a probably a little bit more spin in the first innings, but, um, yeah, it slid onto the bat nicely. They played extremely well, and all of our lads should be so proud of the way that we've played tonight and throughout this competition.

It didn't look as though the expectation of your standards in the field were where you would have loved it tonight.

Would that be correct? Yeah, absolutely. And I'll hold my hands up and say that I made a big mistake there, dropping Samson. And, um, yeah, catches win matches. That old famous phrase. And unfortunately, we just didn't go our way in the field tonight.

Another day, uh, it comes off.

From a bowling perspective, uh, how did you see it? Were there any things on reflection that you would have been hoping that it would have gone better with the ball?

Uh, just mis-execution here and there. We probably didn't execute as well as we could have done. Um, the Indian batters are some of the best batters in the world, and if you mis-execute to some of them, it goes out of the park. So we probably didn't execute as well as we could have done. But like I say, we gave it a red-hot crack and yeah, unfortunately we were on the wrong side.

Yeah, you were in it there for a long time there with the bat, almost right down to the end.

And Jacob Bethell, yeah, he was absolutely unbelievable. I think he's going to earn some serious money in his career and he's going to have a hell of a career with England. And yeah, he's showed the world how good he is tonight. Unfortunately we were on the wrong side, but that innings is an extremely big positive positive to take away from this competition. And to see him go out there in the manner that he did, taking it to them from ball one, and like I said, showing the world what he can do.

As you reflect on the tournament as a whole, having had to go over to Sri Lanka and be here, come back here, what are your thoughts?

I think we had a good tournament, to be honest. Like I said a second ago, we should be extremely proud of the way that we played.

We've—

I said the other day, we're never out of games. And that proved again tonight. Chasing 250, other teams could have just folded and crumbled away, but we stuck to it the whole game and we gave it a red-hot crack, like I said. And unfortunately, we were on the wrong side of it tonight. Harry, thank you very much for your time and all the best as you go forward.

Thank you.

Cheers. Big thanks to England's captain, Harry Brook. Suryakumar Yadav will join us. Sky, what's the overriding feeling heading into the final now against New Zealand?

I mean, it's an unbelievable feeling, obviously, uh, playing in India, leading, leading such a wonderful side, and, uh, World Cup happening in India, going to Ahmedabad, playing that final. I think it's a special feeling for all the, all the boys. From a batting perspective and, and the way that your team went about it, Sanju Samson, etc., I think, uh, he knew, uh, what he wanted to do as soon as he went in to bat. Even when the wicket fell, he knew the wicket was good, so he kept pressing the pedal. And the way he batted, I think the team required that from him. It was all due from all last year, all the hard work he was doing. And it was a special knock today.

Did you see 250 as being where you needed to be?

Oh my God, I just told Harry that how much more do we need to score against you guys? But then at the end of the day, it was a good wicket. The way they batted, I don't want to take credit away from them as well. I think they were always in the game, always in the chase. But the way Bumrah, Ashdeep, and all the other bowlers, they pulled the game, I think it was Unbelievable.

Yeah, Sanju Samson, when he was here a few minutes ago, said he would gladly have given the Man of the Match medal to Jasprit Bumrah.

Absolutely. I mean, you know what, what, what, how, how capable he is, what he's done over the years for India, and he did the same thing today. Raised his hand again, showed character, pulled the game away from them, and I think it was a special, special bowling performance.

Akshar Patel's catching—

oh my God, I think, I think we need to give A little bit credit to our fielding coach as well, T. Dilip. I think the way he's been taking the boys during all the practice sessions, having that fun, fun, fun sessions, and I think boys are responding really well, taking their time even after their personal skill sessions, personal milestones to do that extra bit for the team. I think that's been shown on the field as well.

It looked as though you went a long way to keeping a left-right combination. Shivan Dubey came ahead of you.

Your thoughts on that? I think, see, in this team, I think till number 3, everything is settled. We don't know. We didn't want to change anything. But then as soon as we saw Rashid bowling from one end, I think Dubey was a perfect matchup. Even if I would have got a 50 or 100 in the last game, if it was needed for the team, it was a perfect call today.

Got tight at the end there.

Were you nervous? Very nervous. If someone would have checked my heart rate, it would have been easily 160, 175 plus. But then it's part of the game. Wonderful game, wonderful semifinals, all behind now. Very happy to go into the finals.

And this crowd here, how much of an energy push did they give you here at the Wankhede?

I think the moment we entered, the moment we started warming up, it was already 75-80% full. It says it all that they badly wanted India to do well today. Even though we batted first, I think they were really happy with the way we did. Very happy. Hopeful. Hope we gave them a good show, a good game into the finals. Very happy feeling, and I'm sure everyone will be excited as well.

Yeah, final thought on that. In the final, the defending champions?

Definitely in India, but going for the title, there will be pressure, there will be nerves, but then the boys and the whole support staff will be excited as well.

Sky, thank you very much for your time. Congratulations on getting to the final and all the best once you get there.

Thank you. Cheers. Thoughts of the two captains chatting to Ian Bishop down there at the far end of the ground. We'll get on to some of the individual England performances shortly across the tournament. But what about Jacob Bethell, who, what, 6 months ago had not scored a professional hundred? All the conversation was about the fact that, oh, you know, who's this guy that's getting all of these opportunities? He's not scored a hundred in professional cricket. He's now joined a very, very small group of people, Stephen Finn, to have scored hundreds across all 3 international formats. He is some talent.

Well, the second England player in a week to join that club, Harry Brook doing it just last week with that 100 against Sri Lanka, and today Jacob Bethell does it at 22 years old, having not made 100 for anyone but England in professional cricket. It's quite ridiculous, really. But the player that the management and the selectors and the ECB told us that they saw when he was selected, some thought in an accelerated manner, 18 months or so ago to play in the England team, is being fully vindicated with some of the innings that we're seeing. He's calm under pressure. He's calculated. The way that he manages those situations belies the years that he actually has playing the professional game. And he looks someone who is just going to play international cricket as long as he wants to. And the way that he speaks as well, he seems to me to be a future England captain. You've spoken to him a number of times, Henry, and I'm always impressed with the balanced answers that he gives. He's got an incredible career ahead of him in all formats of the game.

And as Harry Brook said, Abhishek, he's going to earn an awful lot of money. But yeah, goodness me, it was a statement. The world of the modern cricketer, honestly.

I was—

and I told Finney, I tapped him on the shoulder and said to him, yeah, I'm not sure if that's what he's eyeing for. Yes, you will make a lot of money if you keep playing cricket like that, And we all know that in modern day, the amount of franchise cricket there is. But I mean, we can see how special he is. And to have such a calm head over that shoulder at such a young age, you don't see that sort of players very often. They come in, uh, you know, it takes time for players like that to come to any side. You talk about India, you talk about England, you talk about Australia. And yeah, and England, I think they've done an exceptional job to see that talent early and then expedited everything for him and put him in that space where he can mature a lot quicker, being among some of the best, being among the guidance of the likes of Root and everyone else. And Richard Head, which has helped him immensely. You can see already the way his career is progressing, the way he's maturing in all formats. And what a talent. And the way he batted today, it honestly It's one of the most special innings you will see in this format for a very long time.

Yeah, it was a brilliant knock, really was. 105 off 48. What about the report card for others across this tournament then? Because it's been good from some, less good from others, I think it's fair to say. Will Jacks has been superb with bat and ball. 226 runs at an average of 56 with the bat. And then with the ball, more than useful with his offspin as well, with 9 wickets.

Steven, he's, he's been a real bright point for England. Yep, fantastic, and playing a role that he's not particularly used to doing, or not used to doing at all in domestic cricket. In franchise cricket, he opens the batting or bats in the top 3, um, and is very useful— and more better than useful, he's an outstanding player at the top of the order. And he's had to adapt his game to suit the circumstances here and has done it brilliantly, fulfilling that all-rounder role down at number 7. Asked to come in and be selfless with the bat and bowl tricky overs as well in the power play, and he bowled the 20th over today as well for England. So, yeah, an outstanding series for him. I would imagine he still has aspirations to bat right at the very top of the order for England, as that is where he truly does his best work. But in a role that he's not that familiar with, he's been outstanding in this World Cup and probably on balance for performances consistently throughout the tournament. Has been England's best player, and that's backed up by the 4 Player of the Match performances.

Somebody that has struggled quite badly is Jos Buttler, who at 35 years old now, he won't have many ICC tournaments left in, in his career. But yeah, by his standards, Abhishek, a really disappointing showing. 8 matches, uh, just 87 runs scored, an average of just under 11, and a high score of 26.

Yeah, I didn't Nobody will be more disappointed than him. We all know that, how high a standard he sets for himself, and probably he'll never have another tournament like this in his career. And that happens to a lot of, a lot of great cricketers, a lot of top cricketers. He's been absolutely phenomenal in white ball cricket for England, one of the greatest in white ball cricket for England. We can easily say that. So that can happen to players, and especially in this format, because it comes so thick and fast that you don't really have the time to go and work your game out in the net, or you don't really get a breather because it's keeps coming at you. And also, you don't have the time to give yourself time because you've got to go out there and bat with aggression. You've got to make full use of those 6 overs when you're batting in the powerplay. So those things don't really help when you're out of form in this format, especially in other formats. You do have time, uh, to spend a bit more time out there in the middle, but this format requirements is different. And he's not somebody who'll bat for himself. He'll always go out there and try his best for his team and try and give them a good start.

Yeah, and yeah, he is the first to stand up, Steve, and you know him very well. He's a— he's somebody that you've played a lot of cricket with to stand up and say, look, you know, I haven't contributed and I'm really frustrated about it.

Yeah, well, that'd be the thing that hurts him the most, I think. You can take having bad performances, but if the team's winning or you're finding ways to, to contribute in different ways. But yeah, he's— his runs at the top of the order are one of the reasons why England are so dangerous in white ball cricket. And for him having not, not to do that throughout this tournament As Abhishek said, that no one will be more disappointed than he is. He has had little periods like this throughout his career. So does it seem like an ominous sign for him? I don't think so. But he still, to me, seems motivated to play for England and has tournaments left in him where he can propel England to the heights that he's— that he has done in the past. So, yeah, disappointing. No one will be more disappointed than him. But I think more to come from him in the future still.

Joffre Archer has had a mixed tournament, few really encouraging spells, but ultimately I think he'll be a little disappointing. 11 wickets taken, but an economy rate of close to 10 and over. It was very expensive, uh, in the game today. 4 overs, 1 for 61, though he'll feel a little hard done by that Sanju Samson was dropped off his bowling on 15. Uh, is he still the the force that, that he once was, Abhishek, do you think?

I think yes, but we know that it's difficult to bowl in India on those absolute belters. It's hard for any bowler. And the amount of runs who've been scored with him bowling in the power play and the back end— he bowls at the two most dangerous times a bowler can bowl. So it's always going to be difficult. And with Indian pitches and his pace, I just feel that it makes batting a lot easier for batters to just use his pace. Yes, he does try his slower deliveries and stuff, But I just think, yes, it's difficult in India. But at the same time, he, he didn't look the best what we have seen Jofra Archer to be in the past.

Yeah, I think that probably feels fair, Finney. He's not quite scaled the heights of the sort of bowler that you could almost bank on, in the same way that you could to a degree with Jasprit Bumrah maybe 4 or 5 years ago before the injuries.

Yeah. It's really hard to quantify, honestly. T20 cricket in tournaments like this, when you do bowl at the most tricky times, it's so hard to quantify and compare. I think Bumrah is streets ahead of any other fast bowler in the world for his awareness, his disguise of deliveries, his ability to execute under pressure. I think even the other best bowlers in the world, there's their level and then there's Bumrah's level, which is above that. So to compare anyone to him, I think is unfair. Would he have wanted more? Absolutely. He'd have wanted to have those couple of match-winning performances. That's what every player dreams of when you come into a world tournament. Will he look back at it sometimes as he could have used different options? Yes, probably. But he did take wickets in the power play. England took 18 or 19. I think they had one today, didn't they? So 19 throughout the tournament, which is the second most of all the teams to play in the tournament. And he'd have been a big part of that as well. So again, I think the thing you look at with Joffre is what's his pace like, and his pace when he was bowling, his pace on deliveries was still up over 90 miles an hour. So, um, yeah, there's nothing from an injury perspective and being affected by injuries that's bothered his pace.

He will live to regret forever and a day Harry Brook putting that catch down, I've no doubt. What about his tournament, just finally, in terms of England contributions? Because there was the one brilliant hundred But I think as a captain, Steven, given the winter that he's had in so many different ways, I actually think he's had a pretty good tournament as skipper.

I'd agree with that. Yeah, I think the times as well when the team have been under pressure, he's stayed calm. And I think back to that Nepal game where Nepal should really have won it. What did they need, 10 or 12? 10 off that last over, wasn't it, I think? Um, and we were there watching it in, in the Wankhede Stadium thinking this could be disastrous for Brook's captaincy after the New Zealand fiasco, after the Ashes, and he managed to stay calm in that moment. He grabbed the ball, commanded the situation, made sure that Sam Curran was happy with the plans, and Curran executed for him, which the captain has to trust his bowlers in that situation. I think he's become more eloquent as a captain throughout the tournament. Again, you've talked to him quite a lot. You could attest to that, I think, if I'm on the money. The innings that he played against Sri Lanka, moving up to number 3, opening partnership faltering, he grabbed that game by the scruff of the neck and scored that 100. And England improved, definitely improved throughout the tournament. The white ball series win, both of them, both 50-over and T20 against Sri Lanka in the build-up to this World Cup again is a significant thing for him and his captaincy. So there's been a lot to like. Unfortunately for him, the thing that people will remember and the thing that he will remember for weeks, if not months to come, is that white kookaburra ball floating towards him from the bat of Sanju Samson at mid-on. And he will wonder, and everyone will wonder, how didn't he catch that? Because it was so simple.

But it was. And you never know what's going through somebody's mind and what's in their eye line, all of those things. But, uh, but no doubt he will be thinking about that for, uh, for an awfully long time. So, uh, to wrap things up then, England, we, we sense have had a a decent enough tournament without necessarily coming to any definitive conclusions about the direction for, uh, for, for, for coach and, uh, and everything else. What about the final then? Because it's a New Zealand side that come filled with confidence after that 9-wicket win over South Africa in Kolkata, and an India side that have got through some near misses and scrapes, uh, but head to, head to Ahmedabad filled with with the joy of having come through this Test, Abhishek?

Yeah, I think, I think New Zealand will be very confident. The way they played against South Africa, it was, it was just something you don't really see very often in a semi-final, for a team to win with that, that much conviction. And for India, yes, if you win a game like this, Henry, you're always going to be buzzing with a lot of confidence going into the final. The way they won against West Indies and now winning against England in such a crunch game. So again, it— when you go to the final, it's all about who can deliver better on the day. Yeah, we know that there's so much skill in both sides, there's so much talent, they've got the depth, they've got everything a team needs, but it all boils down to who can execute their plans better on the day.

Yep, and that's the point, isn't it? It's on the day, who is going to be able to provide that opportunity to get over the line and, uh, and play that match-winning performance. That's the question, Stephen. Who do you, who do you fancy for that final?

Well, I fancy India, but New Zealand played such an amazing game against South Africa when they were the underdogs, and New Zealanders and their cricket team seem to love playing in those situations and upsetting the party. The, the one thing India, the players who played in that World Cup final, uh, what was it, 2 and a half years ago in Ahmedabad when Australia beat them. There may be a few bad memories about that and they'll be very wary of that situation. But India are favourites. I mean, the way that they've played here, the fact that they've got Pumara. Yeah, India are the favourites. But New Zealand looked really, really good in that semi-final and anything can happen. It's a game of T20 cricket. Someone can have a day out and that wins the game.

Well, thanks to Stephen Finn and Abhishek Janjhanwala. For now, let's get some reaction from the England head coach. Brendan McCullum has been speaking to BBC Sport Matt Henry.

Brendon, some game. Can you try and sum it up for me? 500 runs in a T20 International semi-final and a World Cup semi-final, it's— you don't often see that. I thought, you know, it was an outstanding game of cricket. Obviously we traveled a little bit with the ball, but you know, the conversation that we had at the halfway mark is we felt it was about 20 above par. It wasn't 50 or 60 above par. We thought, you know, if one or two of our guys were able to get in. It was certainly achievable, and in the end we came within 7 runs of beating a very good Indian team in their own conditions in the most hostile stadium arguably in the world. And, you know, that's a fine achievement. It's obviously disappointing that we're not getting a crack in the World Cup final, but there's a lot to be proud of. And, you know, as coach and as leaders within the side, immensely proud of the fight, the fortitude, and the skill and the connectivity that the lads had throughout. It wasn't to be tonight, but we weren't too far away. We're the same within our side. Yes, you're fiercely competitive and you're desperate to win, but if you are going to be beat, make sure you're hard to be beaten. And I thought we were tonight against a good side. There were so many moments in the game. Are there any in particular you put it down to? The fact that you came out on the wrong side? Yeah, I think, to be honest, I've been watching India play throughout this World Cup and their fielding has been, I think it's fair to say, probably below par. For them to come out with two world-class catches tonight, Axar Patel and then on the boundary rope was, I mean, that was the separation between the game really. Like one of those, the one on the rope goes for six and you got a tied ball game, I guess. It's pretty simple, but you know, they made big plays in big moments. And fair play to them. But overall, I was happy with the lads, and I've been happy and proud of their campaign right throughout. We've seen some special things from Jacob Bethell in his brief so far international career. How good was that, and where does it rank? Oh, look, he's an incredible talent, right? He's— there was a punt taken on Bethell early. Yes, he was identified as a special player and a player for the future, and sometimes it takes It takes a gamble to try and introduce someone like that early enough and be brave enough to do so. The selectors and all the scouts, they all identified him early and said, 'We think he's got something.' At what age we're going to see it, we've got no real idea. But he's just continued to grow the more he's come into international cricket. And to get a brilliant 100 like that in a World Cup semi-final on the most hostile ground against the pre-tournament favourites. It takes an immense amount of skill but also a huge amount of belief in yourself and also your tactical acumen. And, you know, then you look back on his 100 he got at Sydney in an Ashes series to come in and to do that. He is a special player. A lot's been thrown at him from us in this early stage, put him in position of captaincy when the team went to Ireland, and he thrived in that even at such a young age. And behind the flair and the bling, there's a very serious and committed cricketer who is thorough in his research and his preparation, and then he uses his flair when he gets out on the field. So he's got a huge future, and he's a strong leader, has emerged within the dressing room. And that's— I think that's also acknowledgement of Harry's captaincy. Patency too. He's got a lot of young men now who are believing in the direction this team's heading, and they're stepping up and performing, and they're assuming leadership roles within the side. And that is the ultimate mark of leadership, I think, is allowing those around you to grow and to develop and to feel as if they have a significant input into how things run within the setup. So a huge positive there as well. I think Brookie's been superb. He's obviously had a tough couple of months, but he's a tough lad and his tactical acumen is outstanding and he's a very strong leader and his best years are in front of him. But he's certainly stepped up in this tournament and given the side a real identity. What's next for you? It's been a long winter. What comes next? I'm going to go home, watch some, hopefully some fast horses and play some average golf and sort of allow, after what's been a tough, demanding, but also there's some missed opportunities, but there's a lot of satisfaction about what some of the things which have been achieved over the last sort of 4 or 5 months as well. But I'll do what I always do and sit back and reflect and give it the time to land and then start assessing what went well. What needs some improvement and what plays do you make to be able to ensure that you keep progressing and developing as a side. So, you know, I'm enjoying the role, enjoying the role across all formats, and I'd love to, love to carry that on. But over the next couple of weeks, it'll be a matter of trying to find the fastest horse and trying to make a few birdies. Do you expect to be in position when it comes— we've got 3 months now until England play again. Do you expect to be head coach of England when that comes around? I'd like to be. I think it's a great job. And great job, when I say that, it's because you're working with some of the most talented players in the world. I'm not saying it's a great job because it's a lark. I'm saying it's a great job because you're working with some of the most talented players in the world with an organisation that is very well structured and well run and is incredibly well supported behind the scenes by the fans and the history that sits within English cricket. So look, it's an absolute privilege. Privilege to be in the position over the last 3 and a half years, and I feel like we've made some significant improvements across the various formats. Yes, we've missed some opportunities, but I think this team has got a real opportunity over the coming years to continue to improve and hopefully finish what we started, and I'd love to be a part of that. Have you had conversations yet with any of the people above you at the ECB, or do you do you expect them to happen and when do you expect them? Oh, look, over the next couple of weeks I'll get home and play some golf and watch some horses. And as I say, I'm enjoying the job. I'd love to still be in the role and we'll see where things are in the coming weeks. Thank you.

Thank you. So England's men end up just short of reaching the T20 World Cup final, but the women's side will have a chance this summer. With a home tournament beginning in fewer than 100 days now. That landmark was celebrated with events across the country this week, including at Edgbaston, where Stefan Schemelt spoke with the England captain, Nat Siverbrunt.

It's 100 days to go to the World Cup. Have you got a date sort of circled in your calendar? How are you sleeping at the minute?

The sleep is a bit broken at the minute, but probably not due to the 100 days the World Cup, um, yeah, due to the small baby not wanting to be asleep the whole night. But yeah, I mean, obviously 100 days to go feels a bit closer and a bit more real, um, obviously the season's almost upon us, so, um, yeah, that excitement is starting to build.

As you rightly say, you've got lots of other things to occupy your mind, but I guess you'd only be human, wouldn't you, if you didn't allow your mind to drift to that World Cup and what it will be like to be a captain of an England team at a home World Cup?

Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, I guess I did that a little bit in the 2017 World Cup just to let my mind wander to see what it would be like in my mind, you know, being in that final and if we were to win it. So yeah, I suppose those same thoughts have been going through my mind a little bit. But yeah, I suppose it feels far enough away that you can do that. So the focus on Obviously the here and now and all of that sort of stuff, I think will start once the training starts. And I guess that block of preparation that we want to get going with.

I want to say it's an opportunity and that can mean lots of different things, obviously to win it like you've just mentioned, but also for the game in this country. So when I say that the World Cup is an opportunity, I know what does that mean to you?

I guess at the moment that would be lifting the trophy. But like on a broader scale, I guess drawing back to 2017 again, at that time we thought, wow, this is really going to like accelerate women's cricket. Like how it is now is just going to be leaps and bounds from where it's going to go. And then we're like, what, 9 years later? And you can't even imagine how it was back then, I suppose. So to I guess for the ceiling not to be too low really, and the game can go wherever it wants to really after this tournament. And I'm hoping that we sort of get a Euros moment almost. And yeah, I guess there's opportunity in that as well.

You mentioned a Euros moment. Have you seen— I suppose it's hard not to see— what happened with the Lionesses and the Red Roses when they have success in this country and think, God, I want a piece of that?

Yeah, yeah. I mean, to experience those the things that they experienced after obviously winning their tournaments is just amazing. So yeah, as a women's sport fan, putting myself in their shoes at that time was really, really special. So yeah, to have that chance to do that this summer, yeah, it's almost unthinkable about, I suppose, where you can go with it. So I'll have to dampen down that excitement by the time we get there, I think.

Do you know that England have won every Women's World Cup that has been played in this country?

I learnt that in a previous interview actually today, so no expectations obviously, should already just happen. Yeah, I mean, that's obviously an incredible record that we have and yeah, hopefully we can draw on some of those experiences. I know obviously a few of those players are still around the game, so Yeah, hopefully we can draw on those and use that to our advantage.

Where's the balance of power in sort of global women's cricket at the moment? We know that New Zealand are the defending T20 World Cup champions. India won the last 50-over World Cup. Australia are going through their own sort of transitional changes. Where is that and where does that leave England in terms of being in the mix to sort of lift the trophy?

I think that makes things quite open, to be fair. I guess we saw in the last T20 World Cup there were different teams in the semifinals and yeah, that makes for a really exciting time. I guess T20 cricket is a game that can change really quickly and yeah, obviously if a really good team have a bad day, that could be the end of that. So T20 cricket can be really fickle, but I guess the openness of women's cricket at the moment in the world is a really exciting part. And yeah, hopefully we can can see some brilliant games, capture the imagination of the fans that do come to watch, and yeah, hopefully have a great time this summer.

If I talk about legacy, is that a straightforward thing to do, to discuss or quantify? So when you think back to 2017, was there a legacy to that tournament? Did women's cricket in this country get that quite right?

To me, I always I think legacy, you more think about after you've like finished playing the game almost. Like when you're in cricket, when you're still playing, you're in the moment and you're, you know, riding the highs and lows of your own performance, of the team, of the, you know, the time in the world, I suppose. So I think the acceleration was a little bit slower after the '17 World Cup, but where we are now is, I guess we have seen in other women's sports that so many things can happen. So yeah, I think we're at a really exciting time in the game.

We talk about the acceleration in the game and the franchise leagues and those sorts of things. It's the Hundred auction next week. Do you think that the England Women's WhatsApp group is going to be a bit lively while that auction's going on?

Yeah, I think so. I think It will be tricky for the girls who are in the auction, I suppose, with that uncertainty about what's going to happen. I know when we had the auction for the first WPL, that was a bit of an awkward time between everyone. We had a game in the, in the T20 World Cup on that day. And so some people found out what was happening before the game, some people afterwards. So the whole day felt a bit weird. But yeah, I guess With quite a lot of our team knowing what, what they're going to be doing in the Hundred next year, hopefully everyone can be really supportive of those girls who are in the auction. And yeah, I suppose it's just a really exciting time for our sport here. Yeah, I'll certainly be tuning in.

And as a team, it's just under a year since you and Charlotte united as the new leadership group. What have you been pleased about in terms of the progress that you've made and where is there still work to do?

Yeah, it's funny because we actually haven't been together all as a side since, since the World Cup late last year. So it has been a while. But I think what the moves that we have made, I think is certainly in the honesty around our group and the openness to challenge. And I think we can push that even further to, I suppose, put ourselves in a great position to be able to adapt as a side when you're being challenged on the pitch. Obviously, that's, I suppose, what we practice for. I'm thinking that's, I suppose, where we can make some more moves this early season. And yeah, I suppose put ourselves in the best position we can for come that tournament start.

Well, that was Nat Sciver-Brunt with Steffen Schemelt. Thanks to Stephen Finn and Abhishek Janjhanwala. That's it for this episode of the TMS podcast. Make sure that you're subscribed so you never miss an episode. Just hit the subscribe button on BBC Sounds and TMS back on air 1:15 on Sunday for India against New Zealand. From the Narendra Modi Stadium. We'll be there in Ahmedabad. You can listen along on Five Sports Extra as well as the BBC Sport website and app. Thank you so much for listening. We'll speak to you next time. The TMS Podcast from BBC Radio 5 Live.

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