The celebrations, from Miss Pennys discount shop in Bradford to Downing Street with the PM - Cricket World Cup book extract

Miss Pennys discount shop in Duckworth Lane Bradford had never seen anything like it. The pound shop selling everything from saucepans to sticky tape was the venue for the homecoming of a special local World Cup hero.

Javid Bashir, owner of the shop, is Adil Rashid’s uncle. He asked him to pop down when he returned from London two days after the World Cup final because a few of his friends wanted to say hello to the city’s famous son.

Hundreds turned up at the small shop to greet Rashid who was wearing his World Cup winners’ medal around his neck and who, 24 hours earlier, had been at Downing Street for a very different reception with the Prime Minister.

Eoin Morgan led the team on its walk down Downing Street but he was more impressed by the homecoming for Rashid, for it proved true the words he said in the moments after the World Cup victory.

Morgan, an Irishman and remain supporter, had constantly talked about the diversity of his England team.

Sitting at the post-match press conference with the World Cup trophy to his left on the desk next to him, Morgan was asked if England had enjoyed the luck of the Irish that day. “We had Allah with us as well,” he replied. “I spoke to Adil and he said Allah was definitely with us. It actually epitomises our team. It is quite diverse backgrounds, cultures and guys have grown up in different countries and are now at the stage where they are at in their career to find humour in the situation we were in at times was pretty cool.”

Family and friends were invited into the inner sanctum of the England dressing room to continue the party before Morgan called all the players together for a few moments.

They all sang the team song as each placed a hand on the World Cup trophy before re-joining family and friends once again.

Bairstow said: “I don’t know what time I got to bed. Time lost all meaning.”

Stokes had been presented with one of those expensive watches by sponsors Hublot for winning the man of the match award. In the excitement, he left it behind in the dressing room (someone took it back to the hotel on his behalf).

Stokes was told he was now a national treasure and his life had changed. “Whatever, I'm not bothered. I've got this medal around my neck so it's all good,” he said.

England cricketers have history at Downing Street. In 2005, one of the players famously urinated in the Rose Garden and they asked Euan Blair, son of the Prime Minister, to go out to buy some booze when they realised only soft drinks were on offer.

It would be different on Morgan’s watch. A couple tried to sneak into the Cabinet Room for a drink but it was only a half-hearted attempt and they never pulled it off. One nearly accidentally knocked a clock over. But it was gentle stuff. When they started to become a bit lairy after a few drinks, Morgan cut them off before it got out of hand. He told them to shut it. They did.

Those watching, including Sir John Major, could see how Morgan held a firm grip on his team.

Players went back to the hotel to continue celebrating. On the Tuesday morning they drove to Lord’s and picked up their kit bags. Some were still wearing their medals as they thanked the Lord’s stewards for looking after their gear. And that was that.

Over to Stokes for the last word on an epic journey. “It's cool, but the best thing about it is that we won what we wanted to. We deserved to be in the final for what we've done over the last four years. We would have been devastated if we hadn't managed to lift that trophy. Looking back over that game I think it will go down in the history books as the best ever, with all the drama of a World Cup final. It's an amazing thing to be part of.”