One day international cricket has come a long way ever since its inception in the early 70s. The Cricket World Cup gave it the required boost in 1975 and since then, it has become the biggest prize of the game, pitching the best in the business against each other every four years.
History
The first three World Cup cricket events were played in England in 1975, 1979 and 1983. The West Indian side, under Clive Lloyd, reached the final of all three, winning the first two editions. Kapil Dev’s India capped their ascent by winning the third World Cup and brought the mega event to the subcontinent. Allan Border’s Australia demolished England to be crowned champions for the first time in 1987, when the fourth World Cup became the first to be held outside England, in India and Pakistan.
Pakistan took their revenge by winning the mega event when it was staged in Australia in 1992, under the brilliant leadership of Imran Khan. World Cup was held in Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka in 1996 which was won by Arjuna Ranatunga’s Sri Lanka while Australia was crowned champions for the second time in 1999 when they beat Pakistan in the final at Lord’s.
The last two editions of the mega event — 2003 in South Africa and 2007 in the West Indies — saw Australia defend the title effortlessly, becoming the first and only team to win the title four times.
Leading scorers
No batsman has scored more runs in the mega event than India’s Sachin Tendulkar who, in 36 World Cup matches, has scored 1796 runs at an average of 58 runs per innings, with 13 half centuries and four centuries.
India’s Sourav Ganguly, Australia’s Mark Waugh and Ricky Ponting also have four World Cup centuries to their names, which are the most by any batsman. Ponting comes second on the list of leading scorers with 1537 runs in 39 matches. His tally of runs has come at an average of 48, followed by West Indian Brian Lara who scored 1225 runs in his 34 appearances.
Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jayasuriya and Aravinda de Silva, Australia’s Adam Gilchrist and Mark Waugh, Pakistan’s Javed Miandad, New Zealand’s Stephen Fleming, Herschelle Gibbs of South Africa, Viv Richards of West Indies and India’s Sourav Ganguly are the other players to score more than 1000 runs in World Cup matches.
The record of highest score in a World Cup match is 188 not out, held by South Africa’s former batsman Gary Kirsten who scored the runs against United Arab Emirates in Rawalpindi in 1996. Before that Viv Richards’s 181 runs against Sri Lanka in Karachi in 1987 was the highest score of the event.
Leading wicket takers
Australia’s Glenn McGrath, Pakistan’s Wasim Akram and Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan are the only bowlers to have taken 50 or more wickets in the World Cup competition. With 71 wickets in 39 matches, McGrath heads the list while Wasim Akram coming second with 55 wickets in 38 matches and Muralitharan trailing behind with 53 in 31.
McGrath’s figures of seven wickets for 15 runs against Namibia in Potchefstroom, South Africa, are the best figures by any bowler in the competition. Only compatriot Andy Bichel and West Indian Winston Davis have taken seven wickets as well in the mega event.
Best fielders
Amongst the fielders to play in the World Cups, Ricky Ponting is the most successful in terms of catches. In 39 matches he has taken 25 catches. The most successful wicket keeper in the mega event has been Adam Gilchrist, who has 52 dismissals — 45 catches and seven stumpings — to his name in 31 World Cup matches.
Records
India holds the record for being the only team to score in access of 400 in a World Cup innings. Their 413 runs for the loss of five wickets against Bermuda at Port of Spain, in 2007, remains the highest score of the event.
Canada has the distinction of getting dismissed below 45 twice in World Cups. Their 45 against England at Manchester in 1979 was ‘bettered’ only by their 36 which came against Sri Lanka at Paarl in 2003.
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