New Zealand all-rounder Jimmy Neesham has joked that children should not take up sport following his World Cup heartache.

Four years ago, Neesham was desperately unlucky to miss out on selection for a home World Cup and was on the verge of quitting the game altogether 18 months ago, out of favour with the national side and working part-time for a farm technology company.

Fast forward to yesterday’s epic and it was the 28-year-old who came so close to capping a remarkable renaissance by guiding New Zealand to their first-ever World Cup.

Having already taken three wickets in the regulation innings, Neesham was sent out to bat in the super over, scoring 13 runs off five balls, including a huge six to that left the Kiwis needing just seven off four deliveries to lift the trophy.

After the world had watched the most incredible, and, for New Zealand, heart-breaking conclusion, he had some tongue-in-cheek advice for young fans.

“Kids, don’t take up sport,” he tweeted. “Take up baking or something. Die at 60 really fat and happy.

“Thank you to all the supporters that came out today. We could hear you the whole way. Sorry we couldn’t deliver what you so badly wanted.

“That hurts. Hopefully there’s a day or two over the next decade where I don’t think about that last half hour.”

It was 6.30am in Wellington by the time Jos Buttler ran out Martin Guptill to secure England’s maiden triumph and a nation of Black Caps fans, led by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who stayed up to watch the match, were left “traumatised” by a second successive World Cup Final defeat.

“I think, probably like a lot of New Zealanders, I’m still feeling quite traumatised by that match,” Ardern told Radio New Zealand.

“It was an incredible game, I can’t recall seeing a game like it, and I think it will go down in history for just being a remarkable game of cricket. Regardless of the outcome, I just feel incredibly proud of the Black Caps. I hope every New Zealander does, because they played remarkable cricket across the course of that tournament — and they certainly did in that last match.”

She added on Instagram: “I think as a nation we all aged a year in that super over.”

Mrs Ardern also confirmed that Kane Williamson’s side would receive a heroes’ welcome upon their return.

“One of the key things is getting a sense of what the Black Caps themselves would like, she said. “Of course, they’ve been away for some time and it’s a case of whether or not they’ll all be in one place when they arrive home.

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“There’s a few conversations to be had, but there have been some phone calls already.”