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Good morning.

What an amazing win. As a lifelong cricket addict, I have been waiting quite literally all my life for this moment. So stressed have I been in the group and knockout games that I stopped listening to the radio commentary because I convinced myself that every England wicket that fell was my personal responsibility. So this morning I am in heaven.

And not just an amazing win but an amazing way to achieve it. It is almost impossible to conceive of the skill and mental agility of those players who kept such cool at a time when the stress must have been unbearable. Add an exquisite bit of serendipity when the ball hit Stokes flailing bat and went away for four and a couple of nerve-jangling sudden death overs and the trophy is England鈥檚. I know I should be sparing a thought for the defeated New Zealanders who must feel terrible today, but not even empathy can get in the way of joy like this.

So plenty of celebration this morning. But perhaps we can take away something longer term from the events in Lords yesterday. I have always had a theory that St Paul was something of a sports fan because he constantly dropped in references to the games in his letters. I also love the way he uses the metaphor of the well-honed body. He鈥檚 really talking about the church but I reckon what he says is equally applicable to a cricket team, or indeed any team.

The body consists of many members St Paul tells us. To be effective each part of the body must play its unique role and do so with skill and commitment. That鈥檚 just what we saw yesterday. Ben Stokes holding the England innings together. The wonderful 24 year old Jofra Archer keeping his cool to bowl that terrifying final over. Eoin Morgan as captain offering leadership. When a body really works together, almost anything is possible.

The England cricket team are therefore an excellent example to any team or group of people setting out to achieve a goal. The kind of inspiration and strength we saw yesterday is surely drawn not from individual egos or personal ambition, but from knowing that we are part of a body and that every single part is important and valuable and needed.

So yesterday鈥檚 win can offer long-term inspiration. For now though let鈥檚 get back to the short term celebration. Maybe our nation is divided over Brexit and its future political direction. Maybe political tensions are rising in the Gulf. Maybe it is Monday morning and another week of school or work beckons. For a moment let鈥檚 forget it all and just rejoice. Sport is perhaps unique in the way it can bring people together. It reminds us that as a nation we are all one body and that everyone has a part to play.

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