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McCullum's impact on Morgan, England comes full circle

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Eoin Morgan (left) and Brendon McCullum (Getty)
Eoin Morgan (left) and Brendon McCullum (Getty)

London - Four years ago, when England were embarrassed at the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, they decided to push the 'reset' button. 

Just two wins from six matches meant they were eliminated from the group stages of that tournament, with a 15-run loss to Bangladesh in Adelaide the final nail in the coffin. 

What skipper Eoin Morgan remembers as the "rock bottom" point of his career, however, was an eight-wicket loss to New Zealand in England's second game of the tournament. 

Batting first, Morgan's England were all out for 123 and it took New Zealand just 12.2 overs to knock off those runs. 

It was as dominant a victory as you are ever likely to see, and in the years that followed Morgan would identify that day as the catalyst for England's rejuvenation.

Brendon McCullum blasted a devastating 77 off just 25 balls as Morgan looked on helplessly, and England never recovered. 

Now, a full four-year cycle later and with England having started over in ODI cricket to eventually reach the top of the pile, Morgan is one win away from glory and redemption following what transpired in 2015. 

A complete philosophical overhaul took place in the English ODI side after 2015, with coach Trevor Bayliss and Morgan prioritising and attacking, fearless approach to their cricket and, in particular, their batting. 

Today, England boast the most dangerous top order in ODI cricket, and much of that stemmed from watching McCullum destroy them in 2015. 

Morgan and McCullum go back a long way having played together at the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, and at Lord's on Saturday they were seen having a chat and catching up. 

McCullum, who is at the World Cup doing broadcast work, missed New Zealand's semi-final win over India because he had commitments back home. 

He was not missing the final, however, and he is in London hoping to watch Kane Williamson's men do what the Black Caps failed to do under McCullum in 2015 when they lost the final to Australia. 

When asked about McCullum's role in England's success over the last few years, Morgan said it was significant.

"I think he has had quite a bit to do with it," Morgan said.

"We are close mates and he's taught me a lot about leadership, and I think in 2015 the way that New Zealand played is very similar to the way they are playing at the moment.

"They proved to everybody that you can perform at the highest level and get to the top by being yourselves and not trying to be somebody else, or a different team ... to be somebody that is a bit of a novelty for everybody else."

While New Zealand will be contesting their second successive World Cup final, this will be England's first since 1992. 

Whoever wins on Sunday will be crowned world champions for the first time ever. 

Play starts at 11:30 (SA time). 

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