England Blind Assistant Coach John Cook looks back with pride at their World Cup campaign.
"11-17-24" has been quoted plenty of times during this trip and it pretty much sums up the whole adventure.
11 players, 17 squad members and the additional support staff and coaches make for 24 representatives working at being better players and people on and off the pitch.
I'm leaving a couple of days earlier than the other guys while they have well some deserved R and R and I will fly over the lads with fond memories that I shall treasure for a lifetime.
I have learnt a lot about this group of players and had an insight as how the game is played on the international stage. The cogs are whirring as to the methods we use to evolve our game!
As soon as we lost to Pakistan in the semi-final, the mood was so positive, knowing that we had made giant steps as a group during our preparation for this campaign.
The conversations were firmly fixed towards the future and going back to the drawing board with so many observations noted, conversations held and friendships forged is so exciting.
We had the highest run-scorer in the entire competition in Luke Sugg. Then a young cub, Justin Hollingsworth, became a proud lion with his maiden century and became England's youngest-ever centurion at 17.
The players will leave this tour knowing that people believe in them and also that they truly believe in their own ability; they are desperate to get back in training and continue this journey.
In my first blog I mentioned that this tour gave me the opportunity to view an international fixture for the first time. The standard of cricket was truly mind-blowing!
You have to put this into context in that the players’ individual impairments make harder a game that is taxing enough in the mainstream and a true test of character - visually impaired cricket amplifies individual character and the styles of each player.
Each player finds a way to maximise their skills, and lessons are there to be learned by cricketers of all ages and ability (if you’re reading this as a coach, really take the time to look at each player you have the privilege to work with and see them for the true individual that they are).
The need to work as a cohesive unit, communicating with players, finding a way to observe and develop plans and strategies in real time is enthralling and please if you do get the time to watch a game of visually impaired cricket, take the opportunity. You won't be disappointed!
I'm so thankful to everybody who has made this event happen, ranging from the officials in South Africa all the way to the players and their parents who have supported them on their journeys to date.
However, the final thank you simply goes to cricket. I'm so glad that I got to enjoy this game early in my life as an 11-year-old. That day in the sports hall picking up a bat from the brown leather kit bag changed my life forever.
Please don't underestimate what sport does for people in all walks of life. See you out there somewhere!