Departing Blackcaps batting coach Craig McMillan has summed up his emotional state following Cricket World Cup heartbreak.
'Gutted'.
McMillan's final game with the side will be remembered as one of the greatest games of cricket ever played, but the end result has left many Kiwis feeling frustrated.
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No clear winner could be found in 102 overs, after the game ended in a Super Over tie - England's superior boundary count was the tournament deciding tie-breaker.
McMillan, a veteran of 252 international's for the Blackcaps, told Newshub it's going to be many months of reflection before the hurt of losing fades.
"I don't think I've ever been as gutted or as proud after a game of cricket than what I was yesterday," McMillan said on Tuesday.
"Gutted because we didn't get the result we wanted, and I felt that we truly deserved to win yesterday at different times.
"And proud in the way the guys handled themselves, kept coming back from difficult challenges throughout the day, kept fighting and they nearly got there.
"It was a day of mixed emotions and it's going to take some guys, there's a lot of raw emotion that will still be there today, five or six hours' sleep hasn't really changed that.
"There's going to be a bit of time for guys to get over, but we will.
"And there'll be a time when we look back on that game very fondly because there were some incredible performances yesterday."
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While acknowledging that England won fair and square according to the tournament rules, McMillian was left frustrated, given his side didn't lose.
The 42-year-old feels sharing the spoils would probably have been the fair result on such a momentous day for cricket.
Speaking to Newshub, McMillan hopes the tie-breaker rules are re-evaluated in the months to come.
"I think that's something for others to discuss and work on," he said.
"It's not going to change yesterday's result. What's fair to say is that at the end of seven-weeks at a big tournament like this, when you have two teams that can't be separated after a 50-over match and a super over, and neither team deserves to lose, then perhaps sharing the trophy would've been or would be the right thing to do.
"But it wasn't to be yesterday, which we're all disappointed with, but that's just sport and they were the rules, so you live by them."
As for the now-infamous Super Over finish, McMillan has credited his batting pair of Jimmy Neesham and Martin Guptill for getting as close as they did to winning the World Cup.
England set an imposing target of 16, with rookie pace bowler Jofra Archer handed the responsibility to restrict the Blackcaps.
Guptill's selection has been questioned by some, but McMillan felt his speed between the wickets and his power game made him the obvious choice.
"We wanted power because once it gets over 10 in that over, you know you need a couple of boundaries.
"We knew Archer had done a good job bowling at the death, he was hard to get hold of, so we needed a bit of power so that if he missed, those boys could hit the ball over the rope.
"And that's why we put those two guys to the top. Obviously 'Neesh' pinged one into the crowd, and you have to give lots of credit to Archer and the way he bowled. The execution under pressure was huge but our guys were exceptional in terms of running the twos and getting the ball into gaps.
"It was such a fine margin."
McMillan is unsure where cricket will fit into his life, but has faith in incoming batting coach Peter Fulton.
The Cantabrian slots into the role immediately, with a tour to Sri Lanka on the horizon next month.
"Pete's been in the environment and has seen how it ticks and works," McMillan said.
"He's a new young coach but I think he will fit into the setup really well. "He probably needs to work on his throwing arm a bit because there's going to be a fair bit of that, especially in Sri Lanka, but I'm excited for him and I'm sure he'll do a great job."
Newshub.
