Cricket World Cup 2019

IT has been 27 years since South Africa first played in a Cricket World Cup. As the world knows, the late global icon Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in prison. A cricketing conspiracy theorist with priestly and political leanings may suggest that the ‘sins’ of the fathers have been paid in full now (one year of not winning for every year in jail) and South Africa is free to win what has to date been an elusive trophy.

1975

West Indies ruled the cricket world and beat Australia by 17 runs in the final at Lords. Back then it was 60 overs a side and they wore whites and a red ball was used. This was the case up until the 1992 tournament. Clive Lloyd made 102 and Viv Richards exacted three run outs.

1979

West Indies defended the trophy, beating England at Lords by 96 runs, taking the last eight wickets for 11 runs. Viv Richards made 138 and Collis King 86.

1983

India shocked everyone by defeating the West Indies at Lords in a thrilling, lowscoring game, by 43 runs, with Kapil Dev the hero. After India was bowled out for 183, Kapil Dev famously said: “Team, if this is not a winning total it’s definitely a fighting total!”

2003

More of the same for Australia, thrashing India in South Africa, with Ricky Ponting making a huge hundred.

2007

Australia again, this time in the West Indies against Sri Lanka, the one-sided match finishing in farcical, near-dark fashion.

2011

At last, a different winner in India, led by the inspired MS Dhoni, beating neighbours Sri Lanka by six wickets in India, cheered on by millions of delirious Indian fans.

2015

An antipodean final, pitting winners Australia against neighbours New Zealand. Easy win for Australia by seven wickets.

Most wickets in consecutive balls – 4 Lasith Malinga, Sri Lanka vs South Africa, 2007.

Most wickets – 71 Glen McGrath, Australia, 1996 – 2007.

Most wickets in a tournament – 26 Glen McGrath, Australia, 2007.

Best bowling in an innings – 7/15 in 7 overs Glen McGrath, Australia, 1996 – 2007.

Best bowling average – 18.19 Glen McGrath, Australia, 1996 – 2007.

Best bowling economy rate – 3.24, Andy Roberts, West Indies, 1975 – 1983.

Best bowling strike rate – 23.8 Lasith Malinga, Sri Lanka, 2007 – 2015.

Best economy rate in an innings – 0.40 Dermot Reeve, England vs Pakistan, 1992.

Best strike rate in an innings – 4.5 Tillakaratne Dilshan, Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe, 2011.

Most runs conceded in an innings – 105 Martin Sneddon, New Zealand vs England, 1983.

Most wicketkeeping dismissals – 54 Kumar Sagakkara, Sri Lanka, 2003 – 2015.

Most wicketkeeping dismissals in an innings – 6 Adam Gilchrist, Australia vs Namibia, 2003.

Most tournaments – 6 Javed Miandad, Pakistan – 1975, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1992, 1996.

Most wicketkeeping dismissals in a tournament – 21 Adam Gilchrist Australia, 2003.

FIELDING POSITIONS AS EXPLAINED TO THE UNSCHOOLED

Wicketkeeper: He’s the man with the big gloves.

Slip: Not the chap landing on his butt trying to run, but the guy who stands closest to the wicketkeeper.

Gulley: Definitely not a ravine formed by the action of water but a catcher at 45-degree angle from the batsman.

Backward point: This chap stands at 90 degrees to the batsman. Usually your best fielder is stationed there, ala Jonty Rhodes and Herschelle Gibbs in their time.

Cover: The fielder needs great speed to stop the ball racing past him.

Third man: Not the third person listed on the team sheet, but a fielder who stands on the boundary behind and to the right of the keeper. Needs a thick skin as the crowd will heckle him.

Extra cover: Usually the captain, he stands there so he can talk to his bowler on the way back to the top of his run up.

Deep extra cover: Another boundary rider – this guy needs express pace to cover a lot of distance. Also needs to be able to throw like his arm is part crossbow.

Long off: He needs to be able to catch a high ball, as that’s where most batsman aim when the slog is on.

Long on: Long’s off’s twin, stationed about 30 paces away, also on the boundary.

Midwicket: He stands on the leg or on side of the batsman, either half way to the boundary, or on the boundary.

Square leg: No, not a fielder with a gammon-shaped leg, but basically the on-side equivalent of backward point.

Fine leg: No, not a fair maiden in the crowd, but another boundary fielder who needs to be able to stop and throw like no other.