DOWN THE MEMORY LANE - WORLDCUP
1975 WORLD CUP, Venue: ENGLAND
General: Two qualifying groups of four, playing each other once in 60-over matches; top two in each group progressed to semi-finals; 15 matches in all. For the first time in the history of Cricket One Day games were introduced. Each team had to play 60 over per match.
Teams Participated: India, West Indies, England, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Srilanka & East Africa.
Semi-finals: West Indies Vs New Zealand and Australia Vs England,
Finals: West Indies Vs Australia.
West Indies had scored 291 for 8. Clive Lloyds had scored 102 (12*4, 2*6). Australia looked out at 233 for 9 but good batting from the last pair Jeff Thomson & Lillee brought them closer to 18 runs short of victory. Finally Australia was all out for 274.
West Indies had won the 1975 World Cup.
1979 WORLD CUP, Venue: ENGLANDFormat: Two groups played the preliminary round, Ind-NZ-SL-WI and Aus-Can-Eng-Pak, with the top two teams in each advancing to the semi-finals.
General: The minor teams emerged from a qualifying competition - the inaugural ICC Trophy, won by Sri Lanka.
Teams Participated: India, West Indies, England, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Canada & Srilanka.
Semi-finals: England Vs New Zealand and West Indies Vs Pakistan.
Finals: West Indies Vs England
West Indies had scored 286 for 9. Viv Richards & Collis King Stole the show. Richards made a brilliant century 138 & Collies King made quick 86 of 66 balls. England started very cautiously with the opening pair adding 129. Then at one stage they looked strong 183 for 2 but a fiery spell from geol Garner 5 for 38 destroyed the batting line up and England ended up at 194 all out.
West Indies had won the 1979 World Cup.
1983 WORLD CUP, Venue: ENGLANDTeams Participated: India, West Indies, England, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Zimbabwe & Srilanka.
Semi-finals: England Vs India and West Indies Vs Pakistan.
Finals: West Indies Vs India
West Indies were the favorites. India having chosen to bat first could manage only 183. Srikanth was the top scorer with 38 runs. West Indies were very confident with the celebration being premature at 50 for 1. Madan Lal & Jimmy Amarnath bowled exceptionally well to keep the Windies in check. Viv Richards at one stage looked very dangerous but a very good catch from kapil Dev sent him back. And with the fall of Clive Lloyds, Gomes, Bacchus, Dujon Indian victory was certain.
India had won the 1983 World Cup.
1987 WORLD CUP, Venue: India & PakistanGeneral: As in 1983 but, due to the shorter daylight hours on the subcontinent, games were 50 overs per innings, not 60. There was an attempt to cheer up disappointed crowds by staging a third-place play-off between Pakistan and India, but the star players demanded too much.
Teams Participated: India, West Indies, England, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Zimbabwe & Srilanka.
Semi-finals: England Vs India and Australia Vs Pakistan.
Finals: Australia Vs England
Australia had scored 253, David Boon making 75. But with Gatting in command, their 253 seemed very gettable. England were struggling from Gatting’s down fall. Mike Gatting had made 58. England could score only 246 in their allotted 50 Overs.
Australia had won the 1987 World Cup.
1992 WORLD CUP, Venue: Australia & New ZealandGeneral: Four big changes 1) Coloured clothing, with names on the back. 2) Floodlights for most of the 36 games. 3) The white ball: in fact two of them, one at each end (so they didn't get too grubby), which meant they swung prodigiously. 4) The fielding circle rules were refined, allowing only two men outside the ring in the first 15 overs. After that, it was as before: a minimum of four inside the circle.
Teams Participated: India, West Indies, England, Australia, Republic of South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan, Zimbabwe and Srilanka.
Semi-finals: England Vs South Africa and New Zealand Vs Pakistan.
Finals: Pakistan Vs England
Imran Khan & Javed Miandad helped Pakistan overcome the initial hiccups. Imran Khan and Javed Miandad made 72 and 58 as Pakistan recovered to 249 for 6. England were soon 69 for 4 (Botham 0), and when Neil Fairbrother (62) and Allan Lamb (31) launched a recovery. But Akram’s bowling ensured victory for Pakistan. Pakistan won by 22 runs.
Pakistan had won the 1992 World Cup.
1996 WORLD CUP, Venue: India, Pakistan & SrilankaGeneral: Two qualifying groups of six: each team played the other five in its group to determine the quarter-finalists. In other words, it took 30 matches to eliminate Zimbabwe and the three minnows, then seven more to reduce the remaining Test nations to one winner.
Teams Participated: India, West Indies, England, Australia, Republic of South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan, Zimbabwe and Srilanka.
Semi-finals: India Vs Srilanka and Australia Vs West Indies
Finals: Australia Vs Srilanka
Australia had made 241 in their 50 overs for loss of 7 wickets. Aravinda De Silva had dominated the World Cup final with his score of 107 not out, taken three wickets and two catches. Australian never looked like defending 241, excessive due & poor fielding adding to their woes.
Srilanka had won the 1996 World Cup.
1999 WORLD CUP, Venue: EnglandTeams Participated: India, West Indies, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Scotland, Zimbabwe, Srilanka and Kenya.
Semi-finals: New Zealand Vs Pakistan and Australia Vs South Africa
Finals: Australia Vs Pakistan
Pakistan had struggled with very poor performance by their top order the highest individual score was by Ijaz Ahmed 22 which was less than extras 25. Pakistan had made 132 in 39 overs. It was a cake walk for Australia. Mark Waugh & Adam Gilchrist made 37 & 54. Ponting & Lehmann finished the match. It was a convincing victory for Aussies.
Australia had won the 1999 World Cup.
2003 WORLD CUP, Venue: South Africa
Teams Participated: India, West Indies, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Namibia, Netherlands, Zimbabwe, Srilanka and Kenya.
Semi-finals: Australia Vs Srilanka and India Vs Kenya
Finals: Australia Vs India
Australia made 359 in the allotted 50 over with ponting leading the show with his unbeaten 140, followed by Damien Martyn 88. India was under tremendous pressure to chase 359. India never looked in control. Loss was inevitable. Only exception was the batting of Sehwag who had made 82.
Australia had won the 2003 World Cup.
Teams Participated: India, West Indies, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Namibia, Netherlands, Zimbabwe, Srilanka and Kenya.
Semi-finals: Australia Vs Srilanka and India Vs Kenya
Finals: Australia Vs India
Australia made 359 in the allotted 50 over with ponting leading the show with his unbeaten 140, followed by Damien Martyn 88. India was under tremendous pressure to chase 359. India never looked in control. Loss was inevitable. Only exception was the batting of Sehwag who had made 82.
Australia had won the 2003 World Cup.
2007 WORLD CUP, Venue: West Indies
General: World Cup starts from the March 18th and the finals will be played on April 28th. Group Stage matches starts on 13th and runs till 25th March. Eight team will advance from the Group Stage Match to the second stage between March 27 and April 21 to play the Super 8 Matches. The four best teams will combat in the Semi-Finals, on April 24 and April 25. The winners will be at their best in performance to prove their identity on April 28.
World Cup 2007 Schedule Available at - http://docs.google.com/View?docid=dd3ct6qx_1f95cvt
