Windies' success augurs well for cricket

Historically, you expect a lot from them, but for a decade now they have fallen short of standards set by their predecessors, writes Allan Border.

I haven't been doing very well as far as predictions are concerned! I had expected Australia to win the first semi-final, Pakistan the second and England the final. But things didn't quite work out that way!

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I am very happy for the West Indies.

Historically, you expect a lot from them, but their performances over the previous decade or so have fallen short of the glorious standards set by their predecessors.

They have been under the pump in recent times, so to speak, and this win will do their confidence a world of good. One of the best aspects of the victory is that it will bring a smile to the faces of all those in the Caribbean who have suffered from Hurricane Ivan.

England were caught on the wrong foot on the big day. They batted poorly, and had Marcus Trescothick not held things together, they would have been in deep trouble.