One of Ben Stokes's Test teammates has revealed the star all-rounder asked umpires not to count the four overthrows that proved decisive in England's dramatic men's Cricket World Cup final win over New Zealand.

Key points: England was awarded six runs for an overthrow when the ball hit Ben Stokes's bat and went to the boundary

England was awarded six runs for an overthrow when the ball hit Ben Stokes's bat and went to the boundary Debate has raged as to whether England should have been give five instead of six runs following the overthrow

Debate has raged as to whether England should have been give five instead of six runs following the overthrow England ended up winning the final on a boundary countback

England had needed nine runs off the final three deliveries of its innings to win when a throw at the stumps deflected off Stokes's bat, with the ball then travelling to the boundary.

The umpires awarded six runs, two for the runs completed and four for the overthrow.

The match ultimately ended in a tie and the two teams could not be split following their respective super overs, with England eventually being crowned world champions on a boundary countback.

Ben Stokes (right) and Jos Buttler react after England's super over. ( AP: Matt Dunham )

England Test fast bowler James Anderson said Stokes spoke to the umpires after the awarding of the overthrows and requested the boundary not be counted.

"I think, talking to [retired England captain] Michael Vaughan who saw him after the game, Ben Stokes actually went to the umpires and said 'Can you take that four runs off? We don't want it'," Anderson told the BBC's Tailenders podcast.

"But it's in the rules and that's the way it is."

The New Zealand-born Stokes apologised to Black Caps players on the field and again after the match, having labelled the extra runs a "fluke".

"I will be apologising to [Black Caps captain] Kane Williamson for the rest of my life … it was written in the stars to happen for us," Stokes said.

Stokes (right) commiserates with Black Caps players after the final. ( AP: Aijaz Rahi )

Debate has been raging about whether England should have been awarded five runs instead of six following the overthrows.

Stokes and Adil Rashid were returning for their second run when the overthrow was made, however it has since emerged that under International Cricket Council (ICC) law 19.8 extra runs are only awarded if the batsmen have crossed when the ball is thrown.

This was not the case in the final, yet umpires Kumar Dharmasena and Marais Erasmu awarded England six runs.

Five-time ICC umpire of the year and member of the MCC laws sub-committee, Simon Taufel, said the on-field officials got it wrong.

"It's a clear mistake … it's an error of judgment," Taufel told Fox Sports on Monday.

England celebrates with the World Cup following the dramatic final. ( AP: Matt Dunham )

Taufel, however, said the umpires should not be blamed for the decision and the call should not detract from the end result.

The ICC has refused to be drawn into the furore surrounding the overthrows rule and whether England was incorrectly awarded an extra run.