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Cricket can be a cruel game: Morgan

April 04, 2016 09:37 IST

'As a whole, I am very proud of my players'

'At no stage, did the West Indies get anywhere near whey they wanted'

England's Ben Stokes is consoled by teammate Liam Plunkett after losing the ICC World Twenty20 final against the West Indies at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday

IMAGE: England's Ben Stokes is consoled by teammate Liam Plunkett after losing the ICC World Twenty20 final against the West Indies at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday. Photograph: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

England captain Eoin Morgan said that the team shared all-rounder Ben Stokes’s pain after he was hit for four sixes by Carlos Brathwaite in the last over of the ICC World T20 final in Kolkata on Sunday.

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Asked how Stokes was coping with the disappointment, Morgan replied: "It's quite simple from my point of view. He is going to be devastated. It'll take its toll in the next couple of days. But we share the pain, we share the success. You could say what you like to him at the moment but he's probably not hearing it."

Morgan said that cricket can be a cruel game despite them having control for the better part of the West Indies innings.      

"It's possible. It just happened. Cricket can be a cruel game. I thought we did extremely well with the ball. At no stage, did the West Indies get anywhere near whey they wanted.

"I don't think we felt rushed at all with the ball. I thought we actually had the crowd on our side. And they responded to us. Everything worked in our favour."

Morgan said that perhaps West Indies never thought they were out of the game.

"I don't think the game is ever gone. I certainly think the physical game of every international cricketer, not only the strength but the timing, so you never feel that far away from getting leathered. I'd love to know. I'd love to be able to do it. He's an incredibly talented cricketer. Like any fantastic cricketer, they keep things incredibly simple."

But Morgan said that he is proud of his players.

"As a whole, I am very proud of my players. I said that yesterday before the game. Today was about letting ourselves go and play with the freedom. I’m extremely proud. This is the beginning of something I hope is going to be special. Let's hope we can keep this group of players together for a long time."

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