Stephen Rodger Waugh, Australia’s 1999 World Cup-winning captain, spoke exclusively to The Telegraph after a general media interaction at the much-visited Trafalgar Square on Friday afternoon.

It was the 54-year-old Waugh’s only one-on-one apart from TV commitments.

Waugh was at the landmark venue in connection with the Criiio Cup. It’s essentially a celebration of social/street cricket launched by the International Cricket Council.

Excerpts...

Everybody expected a hard-fought 2019 World Cup semi-final in Birmingham, but it became so one-sided with England winning massively. Surprised?

Yeah, I guess so. I wasn’t, of course, surprised by the quality on display by England, for they have been the best (ODI) team for the past two years. Australia would have wanted to make it close, but got blown out of the water... I suppose India too must be disappointed at not being able to chase 240, which they should have, against New Zealand.

Thoughts on Sunday’s England vs New Zealand final?

Look, it’s anybody’s game... It’s a one-off, with both teams playing for the highest prize in International cricket... England, I think, are primed to play well and have been peaking at the right time... The one thing in New Zealand’s favour is that five have played a World Cup final (2015), whereas it’s nobody from England. That’s to be expected as they last featured in a final 27 years ago... Having said that, England’s head coach Trevor Bayliss would have got his players relaxed. Not that a Joe Root gets fazed by pressure.

Stand-out performers?

Lots... Rohit Sharma, Jason Roy has had a big influence going into the final, Kane Williamson has had a nice World Cup... Where bowling units go, New Zealand have had a good all-round attack.

Two outstanding captains, Eoin Morgan and Williamson, will toss. Can we, then, expect a war of tactics to play out at Lord’s?

Yes... Both have, indeed, been very good... Williamson, as always, has been understated. He led the way in the semi-final, assessing that it wasn’t a 300 wicket at Old Trafford. A lot of people thought it was, it wasn’t. Williamson deserves credit for that. If New Zealand win the World Cup for the first time, a lot of it would be due to their captain... Morgan has also been a very good leader.

You’re a World Cup-winning captain. What does it take to win cricket’s No.1 trophy?

Composure. You need to stick to the game plan, not get too far ahead and must stay relaxed. Just because you’re in a World Cup final doesn’t mean you have to change your style. You can’t get too excited and look to change.

The final one... When are you next in Calcutta?

Not sure.