If you’re not keen on joining the adulation of the English cricket team steer clear of British media for the next week. Paul Collingwood’s men have become the darlings of the nation, saviours of English cricket, restorers of national sporting pride, etc, etc.

It is the first time England have won an ICC competition but in South Africa the talk is curiously about whether it’s an English victory at all. ‘They say SA are chokers, we’ve just won the T20 world cup!’ says a friend.

Australia, historically generous in doling out the term ‘chokers’ have been force fed some of their own medicine. Nasser Hussain, speaking to Aussie captain Michael Clarke at the toss yesterday, downplayed Aussie chances pointing out Australia’s victory against Pakistan two days earlier was Australia’s final. Clarke was of course resolute about his team’s chances. Coming into the final unbeaten, against an in-form English side, Clarke soon though found his team teetering precariously on 8/3. Australia were skittled early and skittled well.

After the disastrous start to their innings it would have taken the heroics of the kind we witnessed on Friday night to rescue them from an almost certain disgrace. David Hussey, Cameron White and Mike Hussey combined to put on a respectable veneer to their total.

Australia though were not allowed even a sniff of ascendancy. England came out to bat doggedly determined and in an almighty hurry. Australia peppering the English top order with a shorter line were repeatedly smacked away to the boundary. When Kieswetter and Pieterson were dismissed within short time of each other, Australia had two new batsmen at the crease and a chance to manufacture some pressure. Clarke though chose to bring Watson back into the attack and England charged to victory undeterred.