ICC World Cup 2019 | This will go down in history as one that got away from us, says Gary Stead

The final of the ICC World Cup 2019 had it all, last-minute twists, heroic individual performances and human errors, everything. While England got over the line in the end by the slightest of margins, one couldn't help but emphatise with Kane Williamson-led New Zealand who truly fought until the very end. New Zealand coach Gary Stead was all praise for his side but admitted that the 2019 ICC World Cup will go down in history as the one that slipped away from the BlackCaps.

"We were just one run short. It's a really hollow feeling that you play 100 overs and score the same amount of runs and then still lose the game. That's sports. I thought 240 was a competitive total. They've got a gun batting and we were in a good position after early wickets. Stokes and Buttler got them back in the game. Very proud of our guys. It's unfortunate it comes down to one ball at the end of it.

"We can't change that [decision on awarding England six runs on the overthrow] now. It will go down in history as the one that got away from us. I suppose mistakes shouldn't have been made. Perhaps when you've played over seven weeks and you can't be separated on the final day then that is something that should be considered as well. But that's only one consideration over a whole lot of things that went on during the World Cup I guess. Everything will be reviewed and it's a good time to do it now. But probably after the dust settles in a while and the emotions aren't raw," Stead said as quoted by Cricbuzz. 

Stead, who took over as coach of the Blackcaps months before the start of the World Cup, further added that there is going to be a lot of denial within the Kiwi dugout but hoped that his side will bounce back and make the finals in the next edition.

"There was a lot of dejection. A lot of it was how did it happen and why did it happen? They shouldn't feel down. The exciting thing is now the Test Championship. Let's hope we are back in two years for the final. Some people go on holiday from here and it's a good thing," Stead added.