ICC Cricket World Cup 2019: Previous World Cup Champions

The biggest cricket tournament in the world is just 10 days away as the first game of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 takes place on May 30 between the hosts England and South Africa.

This is the fifth time that England will be hosting the ICC Cricket World Cup since its commencement in 1975. The United Kingdom was the hosts of the first three consecutive ICC Cricket World Cup in 1975, 1979 and 1983. They again got the privilege to host the biggest event in cricket in 1999.

There have been 11 editions of the World Cup played so far with Australia being the most successful team in the history, conquering 5 World Cups so far. As the 12th edition begins in just 10 days, let’s take a look at the past winners of the cup-

West Indies went on to conquer the very first edition of the World Cup. There were only 8 teams that participated in the 1975 World Cup. Clive Lloyd led his team to beat Australia by 17 runs in the finals to win the tournament.

Clive Lloyd’s 102 runs knock helped his team to reach a competitive total of 291 in 60 overs. While Andy Roberts led the team with the ball as his economical spell helped the other bowlers to take wickets. Keith Boyce took 4 for 50 runs as Australians could manage to make only 274 runs. Clive Llyod was declared at the man of the match.

While the West Indies won the World Cup as a team, there were some individual performances throughout the world cup from other teams. Glenn Turner of New Zealand scored the highest runs in the event, scoring 333 runs in 4 matches with an average of over 166 runs. Gary Gilmour of Australia was the highest wicket taker of the tournament. He took 11 wickets in just 2 matches with the best figures of 6/14.

West Indies were successful in defending their World Cup title in 1979. The Caribbeans were dominating the cricket world and they continued their dominance at the 1979 World Cup. It was Clive Lloyd who again led his team to victory.

West Indies defeated the hosts England in the finals to claim their second consecutive world cup title. It was Vivian Richards with the bat who knocked an unbeaten 138 runs to take the teams’ total to 288 runs. He was selected as the man of the match for his unbeaten knock in the finals. Caribbean fast bowler, Joel Garner took the responsibility for his team with the ball. He sent 5 English batsmen to the pavilion. Joining Garner was Michael Holding took two wickets and gave just 16 runs in his 8 overs.

With England and West Indies reaching the finals of the 1979 World Cup, their players were also at the top in the individual performances. Two Windies batsmen lead the table of scoring most runs in the World cup. Gordon Greenidge was the highest run scorer with 253 runs in 4 matches followed by Vivian Richards with 217 runs. At the bowling side, the English fast bowler Mike Hendrick was the leading wicket-taker, taking 10 wickets.

India defeated the favorites and two times champion, West Indies by 43 runs in the finals of the 1983 World cup. Kapil Dev led Team India to become the World Cup champions for the first time. India came into the limelight for the first time in the world of cricket as Kapil Dev lifted the Trophy at the historic Lord’s Stadium in England.

Kapil Dev played the skipper’s innings throughout the World Cup as he emerged out as India’s leading run scorer with 303 runs. India defended a low total of 183 runs in the finals with the help of Dev’s spectacular catch of Vivian Richards.

Roger Binny played an important role in India’s road to the world cup title. He was the leading wicket-taker of the tournament with 18 wickets in 8 matches. While David Gower of England was the leading run scorer of the 1983 World Cup. He scores 384 runs in 7 matches.

In the 3rd edition of the World Cup, the matches were reduced from 60 overs to 50 overs per side. Defending champion India and Pakistan were the hosts of the 1987 World Cup. Australia was crowned champions for the first time under the leadership of Allen Border. The 1987 World Cup was the starting of the dominance of the Australians at the ICC Cricket World cup.

In the historic Eden Gardens, Australia defeated England by 7 runs in the finals to win their maiden World Cup title. The match between Australia and England is the closest world cup finals in the history of the ICC World Cup.

David Boon won the man of the match award for his 75 runs knocks in the finals. Boon was as impressive in the whole event as was the second highest in scorer in the tournament with 447 runs. While English batsman Graham Gooch scored the most number of runs with 471 runs. Australian bowler, Craig McDermott took 18 wickets and was the highest wicket taker of the ICC World Cup 1987.

The 1992 ICC Cricket World Cup was a historic world cup as for the first time colored clothing, day and night matches, white ball, and change in the field-restriction rules were introduced. Pakistan led by Imran Khan went onto win their maiden World Cup title.

Imran Khan with the bat and Wasim Akram with the ball helped their team to win the finals against England by 22 runs. Wasim Akram took 3 big wickets of England, for which he was given the match of the match award. Akram was also the leading wicket-taker of the event, taking 18 wickets.

Since the 1992 edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup, at the end of the World Cup, one player was declared as the ‘man of the tournament’. Martin Crowe of New Zealand was elected as the player of the tournament for scoring 456 runs.

Sri Lanka under the captaincy of Arjuna Ranatunga won their maiden World Cup title. The memories of the 1996 World Cup are not so pleasant for the Indian fans as Sri Lanka was declared as the winner of the match against India in the semifinals after a restless crowd broke out on the ground against the underperforming Indian team.

Sri Lanka then came out to be the champion after defeating Australia in the finals at Lahore. Aravinda de Silva played the most memorable innings of his career as he scored an unbeaten 107 runs. Ranatunga also won the man of the match award.

Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jayasuriya was elected as the man of the tournament award for his all-round performance throughout the World Cup. He scored 221 runs with his bat and also took 7 wickets in the tournament.

The 7th edition was the start of the dominance of Australia at the World Cups which went on till 2007. Australia defeated Pakistan after a nail-biting match against South Africa in the semi-finals. The finals was one of the most one-sided matches in the history of the World Cups.

Pakistan could not tackle the world class bowling line up of Australia as they could manage to make only 132 runs in the first innings. Australia chased the target in just 20 overs to win their second world cup title. Shane Warne won the man of the match award in the finals.

South Africa made a blunder in the semifinal clash against Australia but their star all-rounder Lance klusener was the man of the tournament. Lance took 17 wickets and scored 271 runs for his team.

India and Austalia dominated the Group stages and reached the finals of the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup. However, it was the Australia who dominated the finals and became the champions for the second consecutive time.

Australia scored a massive score of 348 runs with losing only 2 wickets. The target was tough enough for the Indians to chase in the biggest event of Cricket. Ricky Ponting was chosen as the man of the match for his unbeaten 140 runs in the finals.

However, India lost the World Cup, their favorite player Sachin Tendulkar was awarded the man of the tournament award for his incredible 673 runs total in the World Cup. He became the first Indian to win the man of the tournament award in a World Cup.

Australia went on to win their fourth World Cup title. It was also a hat trick of World Cup for the Australians. It was the first World Cup in which sixteen teams were participating but the result came out to be the same. Australia took the revenge of the 1996 World Cup as they defeated Sri Lanka in the finals.

Adam Gilchrist scored more than half of his team total and helped the Australian bowlers to defend a competitive total of 281 runs. The Australian bowling line-up led by Glenn Mcgrath did their job and defended the target. Gilchrist also won the man of the match award.

Glen Mcgrath became the first bowler to win the man of the tournament award in a World Cup. The Australian fast bowler took 26 wickets in the course of the event. However, the World Cup is also remembered for a major controversy as Pakistan coach, Bob Woolmer was found dead in the hotel room after the team lost to Ireland.

After a disappointing 2007 World Cup, the Indians came back and won the World Cup after 27 years. India was also the hosts of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. They defeated Sri Lanka in the finals at the Wankhede Stadium.

Gautam Gambhir’s crucial 97 runs knock and MS Dhoni’s unbeaten 91 runs knock helped their team to chase the 275 run target. MS Dhoni also won the man of the match award for leading his team for the front and taking his side to the victory.

Yuvraj Singh was battling with cancer during the world cup. However, it could not stop Yuvraj to play important innings throughout the World Cup for his team. He won the player of the tournament award for his all-round performance throughout the World Cup. Yuvraj scored 362 runs and also took 15 crucial wickets with the ball. The 2011 ICC World Cup was also special for Indians as it was the last world cup for the master blaster, Sachin Tendulkar.

Michael Clarke led Australia to win a record fifth ICC Cricket World Cup title. Australia defeated New Zealand in the finals at the MCG.

Clarke also announced his retirement after winning the World Cup. He also played a memorable inning with a match-winning74 runs knock for his team. However, James Faulkner was selected as the man of the match for his all-round performance.

Mitchell Stark was awarded as the man of the tournament award as he took 22 wickets over the course of the tournament. Stark became the second bowler to win this special award at the ICC Cricket World Cup.