Kevin O’Brien scores the fastest century in World Cup

England recorded their highest score against Ireland by making 327 for eight in 50 overs  at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore on Wednesday (March 2).

It was second highest total against Ireland in limited overs international cricket after New Zealand’s 402 for two in 50 overs at Aberdeen on July 1,2008.

England’s previous highest against Ireland was 301 for seven in 50 overs at Belfast on June 13,2006.

** Jonathan Trott became the fifth Englishman and 32nd  batsman overall on 40 occasions  to be dismissed in 90s in the World Cup matches. India’s Sachin Tendulkar holds this ‘unwanted record’ with thee 90s scores in 37 innings of 38 World Cup matches.

** Trent Johnston became the first bowler from Ireland and 228th bowler overall to take 50 or more wickets in one day internationals. The right arm fast-medium bowler achieved this feat, in his 49th match by bowling out England’s Michael Yardy.

** Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott set up a new record of best partnership for England against Ireland in one day internationals by adding 167 runs for the third wicket. The erased the previous best of 142 runs between Ian Bell and Marcus Trescothick for the fourth wicket at Belfast on June 13,2006. Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott’s stand was the second best for England in World Cup for the third wicket  after 170 runs stand between Ian Bell and Andrew Strauss against India at Bangalore on February 27,2011.

** William Porterfield became the eighth batsman to be dismissed on the first ball of the innings in the World Cup. Four batsmen who was out on the first ball of the match were Johan Wright (New Zealand) against Australia at Auckland on February 22,1992, Hannan Sarkar (Bangladesh) against Sri Lanka at Pietermaritzburg on February 14,2003,Edmond Joyce (England) against New Zealand at Gros Islet on March 16,2003 and Breondon Taylor (Zimbabwe) against Kenya Nagpur on Febraury 28,2011 while Aamir Sohail (Pakistan) against New Zealand at Christcurch on March 18,1992, Gary Kirsten (South Africa) against Zimbabwe at Chelmsford on May 29,1999 and Riaan Walters (Namibia) against Zimbabwe at Harare on February 10,2003 were out on the first ball of the innings.

** Kevin O’Brien scored the fastest century in World Cup by completing 100 runs off 50 balls with 13 fours and six sixes during his 113-run knock. It was sixth fastest century in limited overs international matches.  Australian  Matthew Hayden who made 100 off 66 balls during his 101-run knock against South Africa at St Kitts on March 24, 2007 held the previous record of the fastest century in World Cup.

** Ireland recorded their highest ever score in one day internationals by making 329 for seven in 49.1 overs . Their previous highest was 325 for 8 in 50 overs against Canada at Toronto on September 7, 2010 while their previous highest against England was 263 for nine in 50 overs at Belfast on June 13,2006.

** Kevin O’Brien and Alex Cusack set up a new record for the sixth wicket position in World Cup by adding 162 runs. They erased the previous best of 161 runs between Maurice Odumbe and Alpesh Vadher for Kenya against Sri Lanka at Southampton on May 30,1999.

** Jonathan Trott also became the England’s 29th and 276th batsman overall to score 1000 runs in one day internationals. The right hand top order batsman achieved this feat during his 92-run knock. By achieving the same in the 21st innings of 21 one day international, Jonanthan Trott  equalled West Indian Vivian Richards and England’s Kevin Pietersen’s record of fastest 1000 runs in one day internationals.

** Ireland recorded the first ever victory over England in four one day internationals by winning the match by three wickets. It was their third victory in 11 World Cup matches.

Lasith Malinga joins two hat trick club

Lasith Malinga became the fourth bowler to perform two hat-tricks in one day internationals and first to do so in World Cup match.

The right arm fast bowler from Galle achieved this feat against Kenya at at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo on Tuesday (March 1).

Lasith Malinga’s hat trick started in the 42nd over of the match. Tanmay Mishra  became the first victim of Malinga’s hat-trick after missing a full delivery on leg stump to fall for a 13-ball duck. It was the final ball of the over, and Lasith Malinga gave Peter Ongondo the warmest welcome possible to the tournament in the first ball of his next – a yorker that uprooted middle. The staggered dismissals meant many in the crowd weren’t aware that Lasith Malinga was on a hat-trick. He steamed in and middle stump was dismantled again next ball, the clueless batsman this time was Shem Ngoche.

Lasith Malinga’s fist hat trick came against South Africa at Providence on March 28,2003. He took four wicket in four balls in this match.

Pakistan’s Wasim Akram and Saqlain Mushtaq and Sri Lankan Chaminda Vaas are the only three bowlers to perform two hat tricks in limited overs international cricket before Lasith Malinga.

Lasith Malinga’s  hat trick was the 29th in 3113 one day internationals.  It was the third hat-trick in Sri Lanka and second against Kenya

Pakistan’s Wasim Akram and Saqlain Mushtaq and Sri Lankan Chaminda Vaas are the only three bowlers to perform two hat tricks in limited overs international cricket before Lasith Malinga.

Pakistan’s Jalaluddin, Aaqib Javed, Waqar Younis and Mohammed Sami, Australian Bruce Reid, Anthony Stuart and Brett Lee, India’s Chetan Sharma and Kapil Dev, England’s James Anderson Steve Harmison and Andrew Flintoff, New Zealand’s Danny Morrison and Shane Bond, Zimbabwean Eddo Brandes, South African Charl Langeveldt, Bangladesh’s Shahadat Hossain and West Indian Jerome Taylor and Sri Lankan Lasith Malinga and Farveez Maharoof are the other bowlers to achieve this feat once each.

Chetan Sharma (India), Saqlain Mushtaq (Pakistan) Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka), Brett Lee (Australia) and Kemar Roach (West Indies) perfored hat tricks in World Cup.

** Lasith Malinga recorded his best bowling performance in one day internationals by taking six for 38. It was second best bowling performance by a Sri Lankan bowler in World Cup after Chaminda Vaas’ six for 25 against Bangladesh at Pietermaritzburg on February 14, 2003. Lasith Malinga’s previous best in limited overs international cricket was five for 34 against Pakistan at Dambulla on June 15,2010.

Shahid Afridi joins 300-wicket club in one dayers

Shahid Afridi became the third Pakistani after Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis and 11th bowler overall to take 300 or more wickets in limited overs international cricket.

The Pakistani skipper achieved this feat by dismissing Sri Lankan counterpart Kumar Sangakkara, caught by Ahmed Shehzad at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo on Saturday (February 26).

The right hand batsman and leg break googly bowler also completed the unique double of 3000 runs and 300 wickets by reaching 300 wickets in 314 matches. Pakistan’s Wasim Akram (3717 runs and 502 wickets in 356 matches), Sri Lankan Sanath Jayasuriya (13428 runs and 322 wickets in 444 matches) and South African Shaun Pollock (3519 runs and 393 wickets in 303 matches) are the other all rounders who completed a unique double of 3000 runs and 300 wickets before Shahdi Afridi.

** Sri Lankan off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan became the second most successful bowler in World Cup by dismissing Pakistan’s Umar Akmal, caught by Tillakaratne Dilshan . It was Muttiah Muralitharan’s 56th wicket in 33 World Cup matches. Only Australian Glenn McGrath (71 wickets at 18.19 in 39 matches) has bagged more wickets than Muttiah Muralitharan in the World Cup.

Mutthiah Muralitharan who are playing in the World Cup for the fifth time, claimed seven wickets at 30.85 in six matches in 1996 World Cup, six wickets at 26.33 in five matches in 1999,  17 wickets at 18.76 in 10 matches in 2003 and 23 wickets at 15.26 in 10 matches in the 2007 World Cup. He took three wickets ar 24.33 in two matches in the current World Cup so far.

** The 108-run stand between Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan was the fifth century stand for the fourth wicket position for Pakistan  and first against Sri Lanka in World Cup. It was also Pakistan’s best against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka for this position surpassing Basit Ali and Saleem Malik’s stand of 96 runs at Colombo on August 7,1994.

** Misbah-ul-Haq became the first Pakistani batsman to score two fifty plus scores in first two matches in World Cup. The right hand middle order batsman who made 65 runs against Kenya in the first match at Hambantota on Wednesday, made  an unbeaten 83 in this match.

** Younis Khan recorded his highest score in World Cup by scoring 72 off 76 balls with four fours. His previous highest in this mega event was 50 in the previous match against Kenya at Hambantota on February 23.

New Zealand’s biggest win in World Cup

New Zealand recorded their biggest victory in terms of wickets in World Cup by beating Kenya by 10 wickets at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai on Sunday (February 20).

It was New Zealand’s fifth perfect 10 victory in limited overs international cricket. New Zealand’s previous biggest victory in terms of wickets in World Cup was nine wickets which was recorded on thirce, against Sri Lanka at Nottingham on June 9,2003, against South Africa at Johannesburg on February 16,2003 and against Bangladesh at North Sound on April 2,2007. ** ** New Zealand’s 10-wicket win was seventh perfect 10 win in 305 World Cup matches. West Indies and South Africa achieved two 10-wickets victories each while India and Sri Lanka recorded one 10-wicket win each in World Cup before New Zealand.

** As many as 141 runs were scored for the loss of 10 wickets in 31.5 overs which was the lowest ever match aggregate in one day international matches played on Indian soil. It was second shortest completed match in India after India and England match at Chandigarh on Janaury 27,1985. Only 30 overs,15 overs a side,  were bowled in this match.  

** Kenya’s total of 69 as by far their lowest in World Cup games. It was their first under 100 total in 24 games. They lasted 23.5 overs, which was the lowest for them. Their previous lowest in one day internationals was 84 in 35.3 overs against Australia at Nairobi on September 2,2002 while their lowest in World Cup was 104 in 35.5 overs against West Indies at Kimberley on March 4, 2003. It was also the fifth-lowest total in World Cups. Canada’s 36 against Sri Lanka in 2003 is the lowest.

** For the first time in a World Cup match, New Zealand dismissed a team for less than 100. The previous lowest against New Zealand in a full 50-over match had been  Bangladesh’s 116 in 37.4 overs at Chelmsford on May 17, 1999.

** New Zealand won the match with 252 balls to spare, which was their most comprehensive World Cup win – and the   third-best for all teams in World Cups – in terms of balls remaining. Overall, it was New Zealand’s second-most emphatic win after 10-wicket win over Bangladesh at Queenstown on December 31,2007 with 264 balls to spare.

** Hamish Bennett recorded his best bowling in one day internationals by taking four for 16 bettering four for 46 he had achieved against Pakistan in his previous one day international match at Eden Park, Auckland on February 5, 2011.

** Hamish Bennett also became the first New Zealander and 16th bowler overall to take four or more wickets while playing for the first time in a World Cup match.

** Ross Taylor became New Zealand’s 19th and 194th player overall to play 100 or more matches in limited overs international cricket.

The ‘firsts’ in World Cup

** The first World Cup was played in England from June 7 to June 21, 1975. It was sponsored by the Prudential Assurance Company and hence was called the Prudential World Cup. In addition to the six Test-playing countries, the two strongest associate members, Sri Lanka and East Africa, were invited to play.

** Indian medium pacer Madan Lal sent down the first ball in the World Cup while England’s Bombay born opener John Jameson faced the first ball.

** Dennis Amiss became the first batsman who scored a hundred in World Cup. The England opener who has the distinction to score first ever century in limited overs international cricket, scored 137 off 147 balls with 18 fours against India at Lord’s on June 7,1975.

** England was the first team to cross 300-run mark in World Cup as well as in one day internationals. They scored 334 for four in 60 overs against India at Lord’s on June 7,1975. India made just 132 runs for the loss of three wickets in 60 overs to lose the match by 202 runs. It was the first over 200 runs victory in World Cup as well as in limited overs internationals cricket.

** The first bowler to take five wickets in an innings was Dennis Lillee. The Australian fast bowler took five Pakistan wickets for 34 runs at Leeds on June 7,1975.

** India was the first team who achieved a perfect-10 victory in World Cup as well as in limited overs international cricket by beating East Africa by 10 wickets at Leeds on June 11,1975.

** Sri Lanka were bundled out for just 86 runs in 37.2 overs against West Indies at Manchester on June 7,1975 which was the first instance when a team dismissed under 100 in a World Cup match.

** The first victim of nervous nineties in World Cup was Pakistan’s Zaheer Abbas who was out on 97 against Sri Lanka at Nottingham on June 14,1975.

** West Indies became the first team to lift World Cup when they beat Australia by 17 runs in the final at Lord’s on June 21,1975. Clive Lloyd who scored 102 off 85 balls with 12 fours and two sixes was the first player to score a hundred in a final match.

** The match between Pakistan and Australia at Nottingham in 1979 World Cup was the first match to be completed in two days. ** Sri Lanka was the first associate member to beat a Test side in World Cup. They beat India by 57 runs at Manchester in 1979 World Cup.

** New Zealand’s Martin Snedden became the first bowler to have conceded 100 runs in a World Cup as well as in a limited over international match. He achieved this ‘unwanted feat’ against England at The Oval on June 9,1983.

** Winston Davis was the first bowler to take seven wickets in a World Cup match. The West Indian fast bowler achieved this feat by taking seven Australian wickets for 51 runs at Leeds on June 12,1983.

** Syed Kirmani became the first wicket-keeper to dismiss five batsmen behind the wicket. The Indian stumper achieved this feat against Zimbabwe at Leicester on June 11,2003.

** The first 50-overs- a side match in World Cup was played between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at Hyderabad, Pakistan on October 9,1987.

** In the inaugural match of the 1987 World Cup, Pakistan’s Javed Miandad became the first batsman to score a hundred in a 50 overs match. He made 103 off 100 balls with six fours.

** Chetan Sharma was the first bowler to perform a hat trick in a World Cup match. The Indian medium pacer achieved this feat against New Zealand at Nagpur on October 31,1987.

** West Indian Vivian Richards was the first batsman to score 1000 runs in World Cup. He achieved this feat during his 67-run knock against Pakistan at Karachi in the 1987 World Cup.

** The match between India and England at Perth on February 22,1992 was the first day/night match in the history of the World Cup.

** The first batsman to score a hundred in a day/night match was David Boon. The Australian opener achieved this feat by making 100 off 147 balls with eight fours against West Indies at Melbourne on March 18,1992.

** The first and only player to appear in first six World Cups was Pakistan’s Javed Miandad. He played 33 matches between 1975 and 1996.

** In 1996 World Cup played jointly in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, quarter finals match were played for the first time.

** The first match in the World Cup to be awarded by default was played between Indian and Sri Lanka at Kolkata on March 13,1996. Sections of crowd estimated 100000 lit fired and hurled missiles at the Sri Lankan fielders when India were 120 for eight in 34.1 overs in reply to Sri Lankan score 251 for eight in 50 overs.

** The semifinal match between South Africa and Australia at Birmingham on June 17,1999 was the first tied match in World Cup history. Australia went through to the final despite this match ended in a tie as they had beaten the South Africa by five runs in the Super Six match.

** Australian wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist became the first wicket-keeper to dismiss six batsman behind the wickets in a World Cup match by taking six catches behind the wicket against Namibia at Potchefstroom on February 27,2003.

** Mohammed Kaif was the first fielder to take four catch in a World Cup match. The Indian player achieved this feat by taking four catches in Sri Lankan innings at Johannesburg on March 10,2003.

** Pakistan’s Wasim Akram became the first bowler in the World Cup history to complete a fifty of wickets. The left arm fast bowler achieved this feat when by dismissing Namibian wicket-keeper Melt van Schoor, leg before at De Beers Diamond Oval, Kimberley on February 16,2003. Wasim Akram who played his first match in the World Cup against Sri Lanka at Hyderabad (Sind) on October 8,1987, took 34 matches to achieve this feat.

** The match between Sri Lanka and Canada at Paarl on February 19 was the shortest ever match in in World Cup in terms of time in terms of overs bowled. Only 140 balls were bowled in 105 minutes in the match.

** Australian Rickey Ponting was the first batsman to hit eight sixes in an innings of a World Cup match He achieved this feat during his unbeaten 140-run knock against India in the final at Johannesburg on March 23,2003.

** The first team to score over 400 runs in an innings in World Cup was India. They made 413 for five in 50 overs against Bernuda at Port of Spain on March 19, 2007.

** Sri Lankan Lasith Malinga became the first bowler in World Cup as well as in limited overs international cricket to take four wickets on four balls. He achieved this feat against South Africa at Providence on March 28,2007.

** The first and only bowler to take 25 wickets in a single World Cup is Glenn McGrath. The Australian fast bowler took 26 wickets in 11 matches in the 2007 World Cup in West Indies.

Indian firsts in the World Cup cricket

The match against England at Lord’s on June 7,1975 was India’s first in the World Cup. India’s first defeat also came in this match when England beat them by 202 runs. It was first over 200-run win in limited overs international cricket as well as in the World Cup.

**  Medium pacer Madan Lal was the first Indian to bowl the first ball in the World Cup.He sent down this ball to  England’s Bombay born opener John Jameson at Lord’s on June 7,1975.

**  India achieved their first ever victory in the World Cup match when they beat East Africa by 10 wickets at Leeds on June 11.1975. It was also first ever perfect-10 victory in World Cup as well as in limited overs international cricket.

** Sunil Gavaskar and Farookh Engineer was the first Indian pair who involved in a century partenrship in this mega event. The two batsmen added 123 runs for the opening wicket against ast Africa by 10 wickets at Leeds on June 11.1975.

** Farookh Engineer was the first Indian who received the man of the match award in a World Cup match. He got this award  in the match played against East Africa at Leeds on June 11.1975 which was also India’s first such award in limited overs international cricket.

** Surinder Khanna was the first Indian who received a duck in a World Cup match. The Indian wicket-keeper achieved this ‘unwanted feat’ against West Indies at Birmingham on June 9,1979.

** The first Indian batsman to score a hundred in World Cup was Kapil Dev. The star all rounder achieved this feat by making an unbeaten 175 with 16 fours and six sixes against Zimbabwe at Tunbridge Wells on June 18,1983. Incidentlly it was also India’s first ever century in limited overs international cricket.

** Kapil Dev also the first Indian bowler who took five wickets in a World Cup match. He achieved this feat by taking five Australian wickets for 43 runs at Nottingham on June 13,1983.

** Syed Kirmani was the first wicket-keeper to dismiss five batsmen behind the wicket. The Indian stumper achieved this feat against Zimbabwe at Leicester on June 11,1983.

** India was the first team to beat West Indies in a World Cup match. India achieved this feat by beating West Indies by 34 runs at Manchester on June 10,1983. It was India’s only second victory in the World Cup and West Indies’ first defeat after eight consectuive wins in the World Cup.

** India’s first title victory in the World Cup came in 1983 when they beat West Indies by 43 runs in the final at Lord’s on June 25,1983.

** Chetan Sharma was the first and only  Indian bowler to perform a hat trick in a World Cup match. The medium pacer achieved this feat against New Zealand at Nagpur on October 31,1987. It was also first ever hat trick in the World Cup

** The first Indian fielder to take four catches in a World Cup match was Mohammed Kaif. He achieved this feat by taking four catches in Sri Lankan innings at Johannesburg on March 10,2003. He was also the first ever player to do so in the World Cup.

** Sachin Tendulkar was the first Indian to score over 500 runs in a single World Cup. The master blaster achieved this by making 523 runs at 87.17 with two hundreds and three fifties in seven matches of the 1996 World Cup. It was also the first time when a batsman cross a 500-run mark in a single World Cup.

** In the 1999 World Cup, India crossed the 300-run mark for the first time in a World Cup match by making 329 for two in 50 overs against Kenya at Bristol on May 23,1999. It was also first time in limited overs international cricket that India score over 300 runs in a match.

** Sachin Tendulkar (140 not out) and Rahul Dravid (104 not out) scored centuries against Kenya at Bristol on May 23,1999 which was the first instance when two Indian batsmen scored hundreds in a World Cup match.

** The first Indian to smash seven sixes in a World Cup match was Sourav Ganguly. The former Indian captain achieved this feat during his 183-run knock against Sri Lanka at Taunton on May 26,1999.

** The first Indian wicket-keeper to notch up a century in a World Cup match was Rahul Dravid. Dravid achieved this feat by making 145 off 129 balls with 17 fours and one six against Sri Lanka at Taunton on May 26,1999. With this hundred he also became the first India to score back to back hundred in World Cup. He made an unbeaten 104 off 190 balls with 10 fours against Kenya at Bristol on May 23,1999.

** Sachin Tendulkar became the first Indian batsman to aggregate 1000 runs in World Cup. The little master achieved this feat during his 45-run knock against Pakistan at Manchester on June 8,1999. He now holds the record of most runs in World Cup with 1732 runs at 59.72 in 33 matches.

** Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly added 319 runs for the second wicket against Sri Lanka at Taunton on May 26,1999 which was the first ever 300-partnership in the World Cup.

** The match against England at Perth on February 22,1992 was India’s first under lights in the World Cup.

** Ashish Nehra became the first Indian bowler to take six wickets in a World Cup match. The left arm pacer achieved this by dismissing six English batsmen for 23 runs at Durban on February 26,2003. 

** Sourav Ganguly was the first Indian to score a hundred in a day/night World Cup match. The former Indian captain achieved this feat by scoring an unbeaten 111off 114 with five fours and equal number of sixes against Kenya at Durban on March 20,2003.

** The first Indian batsman to hit 20 sixes in World Cup was Sourav Ganguly. The Bengal Tiger ’s 20th six came during his unbeaten 111-run knock against Kenya at Durban on March 20,2003. The third six off Collins Obuya was Ganguly’s 20th in the 17th World Cup match.

** Javagal Srinath who holds the record of the most wickets for India in the World Cup was also the first Indian bowler to take 25 wickets in this competition. The medium pacer reached this milestone by dismissing Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi at Manchester on June 8,1999. It was his 22nd match in the World Cup.

** The first team to score over 400 runs in an innings in World Cup was India. They made 413 for five in 50 overs against Bermuda at Port of Spain on March 19, 2007.

India aim to end 27-year old title drought in World Cup

A rejuvenated India would aim to redeem their tarnished pride and end a 27-year-old jinx when they start their World Cup cricket campaign against Bangladesh at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, Dhaka on Saturday (February 19).

This match will be the 23rd  one day international between the two teams and second  in World  Cup. India have a good record against  Bangladesh in one day international matches but they lost the only match played in  World Cup. They have won 20 and lost just two in 22 played between the two sides.

Bangladesh defeated India by five wickets when two teams met only time in the World Cup at Port of Spain on March 17,2007.

It might be tempting to call it one of the biggest upsets, but the manner in which Bangladesh pulled the rug from under India’s feet at Port-of-Spain, for their third win in World Cup games and 34th overall, came with a touch of the inevitable. Mashrafe Mortaza inspired a clockwork bowling effort, helped largely by a slew of sloppy strokes, before three teenagers displayed confidence, verve and composure beyond their years to turn a tricky chase into a stroll, winning by five wickets.

India also have a good record in the matches played against Bangladesh in Bangladesh. They have won 12, lost one in 13 one day international matches played against Bangladesh in Bangladesh. Bangladesh’s only victory against India at home came at Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka on December 26, 2004. The home team have won the match by 15 runs.

It is hard to beat India in day/night encounters for Bangladesh. The Indians  have won 11 and lost just one in 12  matches played against Bangladesh under lights.

The men in blue have a perfect record against Bangladesh at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, Dhaka. They have won all five matches against the home team at this venue. Overall India have won seven and lost three in 10 matches played at this ground.

 The Indian team recorded a six-wicket win over Bangladesh when two teams met last time in a limited overs international match at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on June 16, 2010

Batting first after winning the toss, Bangladesh were bowled out for 167 for 34.5 overs. India made 168 for four in 30.4 overs to win the match by six wickets with 116 balls remaining.

Meet World Cup Trophy

The ICC World Cup Trophy is the prize presented to the winners of the tournament. The current Trophy was created for the 1999 event and is the first permanent prize in the tournament’s history.

It was designed and manufactured in London by Garrard, the Crown Jewelers, and is valued at more than £27,000 (About Rs 21 lakhs). Crafted in silver and gilt, the 60 cm trophy weights 11 kilos and features a golden globe held aloft by three silver columns. The globe itself is presented in the form of a stylized cricket ball, while the columns, styled as stumps and balls, represent the three essential pillars of the game–batting, bowling and fielding.

The Trophy was designed by Paul Marsden at Garrard. A number of craftsmen worked for two months, spending over 500 man-hours in the workshop, to create the finished article.

The trophy has been designed to ensure its uniqueness is instantly recognized, no matter from which angle it is viewed. The nine previous winners have been acknowledged on inscription plates at its base.

The actual Trophy is always kept by the ICC in its offices in Dubai but a replica, which is identical in all aspects apart from the inscription of the previous champions, is awarded to the winning team and remains in their possession.

The Prudential Cups were awarded to the winners of the World Cup from 1975-1983 when Prudential Assurance Company was the primary sponsors. The Trophies’ designs changed when the sponsors changed until the 1999 World Cup. So the first three world cups had a similar Trophy while 1987, 1992 and 1996 had different trophies because of different sponsors until the International Cricket Council decided to award its own trophy.

THE WORLD CUP WINNERS:

Year Trophy Name Winner

1975 Prudential World Cup West Indies

1979 Prudential World Cup West Indies

1983 Prudential World Cup India

1987 Reliance World Cup Australia

1992 Benson & Hedges World Cup Pakistan

1996 Wills World Cup Sri Lanka

1999 ICC World Cup Australia

2003 ICC World Cup Australia

2007 ICC World Cup Australia

Thirty five players to celebrate their birthdays during the World Cup

A total number of 35 players will celebrates their birthdays during the 10th edition of the World Cup to be held jointly in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka from February 19 to April 2, 2011.

Six players from England, five players from Zimbabwe, four players each from South Africa and New Zealand, three players each from Sri Lanka, Holland and Canada, two players each from Bangaldesh and Pakistan and one player from Ireland will celebrate their birthdays during the 43-day tournament. There is no birthday boy in Kenya, West Indies and Indian teams.

Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan, Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi, England’s Andrew Strauss and Zimbabwean Elton Chigumbura are the four skippers to cut his birthday cake during this mega event.

Australian Shaun Tait, Canadian Khurram Chohan and New Zealand’s Hamish Bennett will be first three players to celebrates their birth day. The all three were born on 22nd February.

Australian vice-captain will celebrate his 30th birthday on the final day of the tournament. It will be lucky holiday for him if Australian in the final and win the tournament for the fourth time in a row. But it looks hard and impossible.

England’s James Tedwell will cut their birthday cake on February 27 when their team will play against India at Banglaore. It will be a birthday gift for him if England defeated hosts in this match. Zimbabwean Greg Lamb also celebrate his 30th birthday on March 4,1981 when his team playing against New Zealand at Ahmedabad.

New Zealand’s Hamish Bennett will be the youngest to celebrate his birthday during the 10th edition of the World Cup while Holland’s Bas Zuiderent and England’s Andrew Strauss will be the oldest. Hamish Bennett will cut his 23rd birthday cake on February 22 while Bas Zuiderent and Andrew Strauss will celebrate their 34th birthdays on March 2.

BIRTH DAY BOYS IN THE 2011 WORLD CUP:

Player Date of Birth Birth day

Shaun Tait (Australia) 22-02-1983 28th

Khurram Chohan (Canada) 22-02-1980 31st

Hamish Bennett (New Zealand) 22-02-1987 23rd

Chamara Kapugendera (Sri Lanka) 24-02-1987 24th

Zubin Sukari (Canada) 26-02-1980 31st

Matt Prior (England) 26-02-1982 29th

James Tredwell (England) 27-02-1982 29th

Tim Bresnan (England) 28-02-1985 26th

Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) 01-03-1980 31st

Abdur Rehman (Pakistan) 01-03-1980 31st

Andrew Strauss (England) 02-03-1977 34th

Bas Zuiderent (Holland) 03-03-1977 34th

Balaji Rao (Canada) 04-03-1978 33rd

Kevin O’Brien (Ireland) 04-03-1984 27th

Greg Lamb (Zimbabwe) 04-03-1981 30th

Berend Westdijk (Holland) 05-03-1985 26th

Lonwabo Tsotsobe (South Africa) 07-03-1984 27th

Luke Wright (England) 07-03-1985 26th

Ross Taylor (New Zealand) 08-03-1984 27th

Charles Coventry (Zimbabwe) 08-03-1983 28th

Ajantha Mendis (Sri Lanka) 11-03-1985 26th

Elton Chigumbura (Zimbabwe) 14-03-1986 25th

Kyle Mills (New Zealand) 15-03-1979 32nd

Rangana Herath (Sri Lanka) 19-03-1978 33rd

Luke Woodcock (New Zealand) 19-03-1982 29th

Morne Van Wyk (South Africa) 20-03-1979 32nd

Terry Duffin (Zimbabwe) 08-03-1983 28th

Atse Buurman (Holland) 21-03-1982 29th

Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh) 24-03-1987 24th

Geraeme Swann (England) 24-03-1979 32nd

Prosper Utseya (Zimbabwe) 26-03-1985 26th

Imran Tahir (South Africa) 27-03-1979 32nd

Tamim Iqbal (Bangladesh) 27-03-1998 22nd

Hashim Amla (South Africa) 31-03-1983 28th

Michael Clarke (Australia) 02-04-1981 30th

Just three tie matches in World Cup

A cricket match is tied when both teams finish with same number of runs. A very rare instance. There have been 23 tied matches in limited overs international matches out of over 3099 played since 1971 and only three in World Cup out of 303 matches.

In the Twenty-20 matches, ‘Super over’ or one-over eliminator being played for the tie-breaker after match ended in a tie.

In the 2011 World Cup, there will be no ‘Super over’ in the league matches. But ‘Super Over’ will be used if any knock out match ended in a tie.

Under the rules for the tie-breaker, each team will nominate three batsmen and one bowler. Each side bats one over, with the innings being declared closed if it loses two wickets. If the teams finish tied on runs scored in that one over, the side with the higher number of sixes in its full innings and in the one-over eliminator will be declared the winner. If the teams are still tied, the one with the higher number of fours in both innings will win.

The first and most famous tied match in the World Cup was played between Australia and South Africa at Edgbaston back on 17 June 1999. It was the semi-final match. When Allan Donald didn’t run and Lance Klusner was runout with just one more run to be made. A tied made sure Aussies progressed to final as they had beaten Proteas in league round. South Africa were all out for 213 runs in 49.4 overs after dismissing Australia for 213 runs in 49.2 overs.

South Africa and Sri Lanka played a tied match on 3 March 2003 at Kingsmead in Durban which was rain affected match and Proteas needed a victory to progress forward in that tournament. Mark Boucher didn’t take no run off last ball before the rain break and home team were thrown out of that tournament, miscalculating the duckworth lewis chart. Sri Lanka made 268 while South Africa failed to make the winning run, finishing at 229 for 6 wickets in 45 overs.

This day/night match was the first tied match which was decided by the Duckworth Lewis method.

Sri Lanka scored an imposing 268 for nine in 50 overs then restricted the Proteas to 229 for six in 45 overs before the soaked players were forced from the field by sheets of rain. According to the Duckworth Lewis method used to decide weather affected matches, the scores were tied when the umpires called on the covers with South Africa needing 40 runs from the last 30 balls of the innings.

The Ireland and Zimbabwe also played a tied match at Sabina Park, Kingston in Jamaica on March 15, 2007. Ireland made 221 for nine in 50 overs while Zimbabwe were 221 all out off the last ball of the match.

Stuart Matsikenyeri took five off the first three balls of the last over, bowled by Andrew White. Edward Rainsford chipped a single off the fourth, leaving Zimbabwe needing three from two. Stuart Matsikenyeri then top edged and an airborne Trent Johnston at short third man couldn’t quite cling on to the ball, and then his shy at the bowler’s end was thwarted by some unsubtle but effective blocking by Edward Rainsford who threw himself in the path of the throw.

The Smallest victory in terms of runs in World Cup has been 1 run, achieved by Australia, twice and both times against India, at Chennai on 9 October 1987 and at Brisbane on 1 March 1992. There have been four one wicket victories and one last ball win also in World Cup matches.

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