Alastair Cook says England progressing well despite World Twenty20 agony

Alastair Cook does not think England's World Twenty20 final defeat should detract from a fine tournament and 18 months of progress.

Test captain Cook was watching from home when an Eoin Morgan-skippered side was beaten in heartbreaking fashion by the West Indies.

Ben Stokes conceded four successive sixes to Carlos Brathwaite to start the final over and a four-wicket defeat meant England ended the tournament as gallant runners-up.

"It's been a really good 18 months for England cricket as a whole with some fantastic results in all formats," Cook told Sky Sports News HQ.

"With the talent and the resources we've got we should be competing in all three areas, and we are doing that.

"Credit goes to everyone behind the scenes, the coaches and of course Andrew Strauss who has come in and done what he has done.

"The danger is now not to rest, we have to keep pushing forward with some massive cricket coming up. We've got to keep driving English cricket forward as a whole. It would have been great to have that trophy as another step towards it

"They deserve all the credit for getting to that final, and the way they played to do that, but because it's such a hard tournament to win, you have to take that opportunity."

Cook also added his support for Stokes, who was left in tears after Brathwaite's incredible four-ball assault.

"I don't think I have ever felt as sorry for a bowler than I did for Ben at the end, but that's Twenty20 cricket for you - you can win it or lose it in an over. It was some unbelievable hitting," he added.

"I do feel for Ben but he's the type of character you want with you in the trenches. We should be talking about how good the hitting was rather than him having a stinker.

"That's how the game has changed these last couple of years. Guys are coming in, getting 30 off 10 balls and hitting the ball a mile."