LORD’S will be on a buzz as England take on New Zealand for the World Cup final here today in front of a packed to capacity house. This will be England’s golden opportunity to lift the coveted trophy for the first ever time. They did reach three World Cup finals prior to this one — in 1979, 1987 and in 1992 — but never appeared to be this confident about winning it.

This is going to be a cracker of a game because weather is going to be kind and full day’s play is possible.

They are, indeed, a formidable outfit today and will be attempting to become the world champions of the game which they are proud to have invented and developed. Their captain Eoin Morgan, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes and their new fast bowler Jofra Archer have the firepower to emerge as champions.

In the 1979 final against the West Indies here, they lost as Viv Richards struck a pristine century. In the 1987 final at the Eden Gardens in Calcutta (now Kolkata), they were beaten by Alan Border’s Australians after England captain Mike Gatting’s shock dismissal off a reverse sweep triggered a collapse, and then at the MCG in 1992 when Pakistan outplayed them to win by 22 runs as Imran Khan and his charges defended their 249 in a brilliant fashion to win the title for the first time.

From the first three World Cups played here — from 1975 to 1983 - the West Indians won twice in a row before India under Kapil Dev dethroned the mighty West Indies. In the 1999 final it was Pakistan against Australia at Lord’s where the former, led by Wasim Akram, handed the title to the Aussies on a platter after being decimated for less than 135.

The New Zealanders are a surprise finalist, they have been there once before too, in 2015 in Australia, losing a lop-sided game to the hosts. But they cannot be taken lightly just on face value because they have one of the most potent pace attacks in the world comprising Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson and Henry. Their spinner Santner is also a match winner who turns the ball appreciably to keep the batsmen on their toes.

This is my fifth World Cup final in England and ninth in all. But it is surely going to be the last one for me of course and I would like to sign off hoping that the best team on the day wins the title.

Published in Dawn, July 14th, 2019