Exciting facts from World Cups

Did you know that the first ball of the World Cup was bowled by an Indian? Hidden in the annals of cricketing history are factoids that would amaze you, shock you and at times outrage you, outright. Peruse the pearls of wisdom put together for you by Zeecric:

2007 World Cup

In World Cup 2007, TV umpires had the right to indicate that a batsman is not out if the replays showed there was no contact between bat and ball.

The ICC introduced a five-stage system to break a tie on points between two or more teams in the preliminary and Super 8 stages, and a two-stage system for the semifinals and finals, including bowl-outs. This is how the bowl-out rule, which was never used, reads:

The bowl-out rule: For the semis, in case of a tied match, the bowl-out will be resorted to and after a no result match teams with the higher NRR in the Super 8 series would proceed to the final and if tie persists, deadlock will be broken by draw of lots.

This World Cup saw confusion engulfing the final between Sri Lanka and Australia. With only three overs left, Sri Lanka still needed over 60 runs to win. It was then that umpires offered players the light and they took it. Thinking that the match was over, the Aussies started celebrating.

But umpires had other things in mind and Aussies were told that they could not celebrate, as the three remaining overs still needed to be bowled. On field umpire Aleem Dar gave them the option of bowling the three overs in the reserve day or in the bad lights.

Both Sri Lankans and Australians agreed to do so in the bad lights and as a result the frustration turned into agony. Symonds began the 33rd over in pitch black and Aleem Dar refused to leave the rulebook (that was hardly visible) by giving a leg side delivery, wide.

In this very World Cup, Gibbs made the world record of hitting six sixes in an over against the hapless Holland bowler Daan van Bunge when the two teams met in the Super 8s.

One of the most exciting events of the tournament was the dance that the Bangladeshi and Irish players indulged in whenever any opposition wicket fell. The Irish called it the ‘chicken dance’

. Lasith Malinga of Sri lanka became the first bowler to take 4 wickets in as many deliveries in the match against South Africa in the Super Eights.

2003 World Cup

This World Cup is notorious for being the most controversial World Cups of all. Shane Warne was sent home only a day before Australia’s opening game. He failed a drug test and was banned for a year. He blamed it on diet pills that he took to improve his appearance.

England, facing intense domestic pressure to boycott ties in Zimbabwe, cited security reasons to do so. New Zealand also backed out of playing in Kenya citing the same reason.

Andy Flower, Henry Olonga wore black armbands protesting the death of democracy as they represented Robert Mugabe’s Zimbabwe in 2003 World Cup.

1999 World Cup

Australia used go-slow tactics against the West Indies to thwart New Zealand`s chances of progressing in the tournament. Australia aimed for a narrow win to ensure both of them went through at New Zealand`s expense. Chasing a paltry 111, Australia at one stage in the game scored 12 runs in 10 overs.

Australia lifted the title after a run of seven games without defeat.

For the first time in World Cup history all ten batsmen (from New Zealand) were dismissed, caught in an innings. West Indies won the match by 7 wickets chasing 156.

For the first time in World Cup history the opening match did not have an individual hundred

Lance and Chris Cairns (both New Zealand players) and Don and Derek Pringle are the only father and son pairs to have played the World Cup. The Pringles played for different teams though; Chris for East Africa, Derek for England.

1996 World Cup

Javed Miandad became the first and only player to take part in six World Cups. He retired after the 1996 World Cup.

Mark Waugh joined the unique list of batsmen who have the unique distinction of having scored three hundreds in the World Cup. Vivian Richards, Rameez Raja also feature in the list. Mark Waugh`s feat is even more commendable because he scored all his three hundreds in a single World Cup tournament (1996).

The semi-final between India and Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens was the first to be awarded to a team “by default”. Crowd disturbance forced the match referee to award the match to Sri Lanka as India tottered at 128/8 chasing Sri Lanka’s 252.

The series saw West Indies losing 8 wickets within the span of 50 balls and 37 runs. West Indies thereby lost the semi-final to Australia, once cruising at 165 for 2 in 42nd over.

The 1996 final was the first time when the side batting second chased the target and won.

Kenya beat West Indies in a qualifying match at Pune. Steve Tikolotop-scored with 29 as the Kenyans posted 166 for Windies to chase. West Indies we all out for 93. Maurice Odumbe and Rajab Ali took three wickets each.

1992 World Cup

Botham faced Sachin Tendulkar for the first and the last time in an international match at Perth. England defeated India in the World Cup opener by 9 runs.

Inzamam-ul-Haq slammed 60 off 37 balls against hitherto dominant New Zealand in the semis and ended their dream run in the World Cup.

Jonty Rhodes became the first superstar fielder in this World Cup. The run out he inflicted on Inzamam-ul-Haq, when the he was on song at 48(45), is still part of the 1992 World Cup legend.

1987 World Cup

Did you know? -Chetan Sharma is the only Indian to take a hat-trick in this World Cup. He made history by claiming the first ever hat-trick of the Cup.

For the first time World Cup shifted from England to the Indian sub-continent.

Graham Gooch of England became the only player to win three consecutive man-of-match awards.

Gavaskar made his last international appearance. He averaged 50 in the tournament.

1983 World Cup

One of the all-time great innings, 175 not out by Kapil Dev against Zimbabwe was registered in this World Cup. BBC was on strike that historic day and as a result of that it was never recorded on video.

India made it to the semi-final and final stage of the World Cup for the first time.

It took Canada 24 years to feature in the World Cup again after 197.

1979 World Cup

Vivian Richards` 139 not out is the second highest score in a World Cup Final.

Sri Lanka became the first nation to boycott a match in the World Cup when they refused to play Israel on political grounds in the mini-tournament.

1975 World Cup

The 1975 Prudential World Cup saw no weather interruptions. Not even a single ball was wasted, thanks to the weather Gods.

The first ball of the World Cup was bowled by India’s Madan Lal to England’s Denis Amiss at Lord’s on June 7, 1975.

Sunil Gavaskar batted through the innings (60 overs), took 174 balls and made just 36 runs against England at Lord’s in the opener. The innings by Gavaskar is rated as one of the most controversial performance of international cricket. He blamed the innings on bad form, where as his detractors credit it on his unhappiness with team selection.

Bureau Report