The 2019 World Cup final, the match that will forever define cricketing relations between England and New Zealand, came at the end of a six-week slog.
Before the game that lasted a lifetime came a round-robin group stage that seemed to stretch on for eternity, a 45-match traipse around the country that began in the last throes of spring and, despite inclement weather and several upsets, gave the cream ample space to rise by the time the tournament's two best sides met at Lord's on July 14.
