A brief history of the Cricket World

Cups
The biggest cricketing event of the year is just a weeks time from now. As a mega fan, you
surly would have made all the preparations for the event. When you are preparing yourself
to enjoy the Cricket World Cup 2015 to the fullest, we thought we will give you a quick
rundown on the history of Cricket Word Cup, since it started in year 1975.

West Indies were the mighty champions in 1975

It was Australia and West Indies that finally made it to the mega finals at the mecca of
cricket Lords Cricket ground in England. Batting first, without the experience of Garfield
Sobers, led by Clive Lloyd the Windies scored 290 for 8 in their quota of 60 overs (ODIs
were 60 overs-a-side then. In reply despite the valiant effort from Australia captain Ian
Chappell, the Ausies fell short of the West Indian total by 16 runs.

West Indies ruled the roost again in 1979

The Cricket world had again flocked to England for the second world cup in history. While
everyone would have backed the English to take away the trophy playing in the home
conditions. It was the West Indian greats that came to the party yet again. The teams
batting order led by Viv Richards Collis King posted a mammoth total of 286 against
England in the final. English tried their best, but the team fell good 92 runs short of the
West Indian total, handing the Windes their second world cup on the trot.

It was the Indian commitment to join the party in 1983

When the cricketing world had gathered for the third world cup, for the third consecutive
time in England, no one in their wildest dreams would have seen India as the world
champions. But no one can stop the obvious from happening. After demolishing England in
the semi-final, India was still not the favorite against mighty West Indies who let by Viv
Richards looked adamant at winning the world cup for the third consecutive time.

Australia come to party in 1987

It was the first ever world cup hosted jointly by India and Pakistan. Eden Gardens in
Koltoka, India, was the venue for the final. England looked well placed in the game at one
stage, but with fall of Mike Gatting, the well-disciplined Australian squad took hold of the
game and won by seven runs. What had changed in the 1987 world cup was that because
of shorter daylight hours in the sub-continent, all games were played over 50 overs.

Pakistan surprised the world with the victory in 1992

Played in Australia and New Zealand, the 1992 world cup saw many ups and down, and one
of them was that a side (Pakistan) that almost got eliminated from the world cup in the first
round came back strongest to beat England in final at Melbourne to lift the cup for the first
time.

Sri Lanka made the world believe they were the true champions in 1996

1996 world cup will be remembered for the rise of one of the low ranked teams in world
cricket to the pinnacle. Thanks to the efforts of Aravinda da Silva, Sananth Jayasuriya and
Muttiah Muralitharan, and disciplined performance from all team members, Sri Lanka beat
Australia to become world champions in Lahore, Pakistan.

Last world cup of the Millennium in 1999, won by Australia that would rule
world cricket for years to come

Through the tournament in England, Wales and Scotland, Australia pan through lots of ups
and downs, but in the final Pakistan proved no match to the mighty Australians.

Australia overpowered to lift record third world cup in 2003 and then the
fourth in 2007

Routing India in the finals by 125 runs, Ricky Ponting led Australian brigade became the first
team to win three World Cups.
Australia, which was on the pinnacle of its game defeated Sri Lanka in rain-shortened game
Kensington Oval, Barbados.

The fiercest and consolidate Indian squad gave the Little Master a befitting
adieu with the world cup victory in 2011

Indian came into the tournament played in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh with full
commitment to win the world cup, not just because they had not done it for since 1983 but
also because they wanted to win it for the little master Sachin Tendulkar, who would be
bidding farewell to the game after the tournament. Determined Indian team beat Sri Lanka
in a nail biting finish to lit the second world cup.

The stage is set for the crowning of a new champion, who it will be, only time will tell.
Source: You Cricketer