WORLD CUP – 100 DAYS TO GO
The 10th ICC World Cup is to begin in 100 days and cricket is back to where it is considered to be a religion – Indian sub-continent. The four Asian cricketing giants are due to conduct the series in 100 days but due to security concerns Pakistan has been forcibly pulled out and it will be only India, Srilanka and Bangladesh with the initial game to be played at Dhaka and the final at Mumbai. Australia have won the trophy 4 times, followed by West Indies twice and India, SL and Pak once each.
NUMBERS GAME
First and the Latest — The first hundred in ODI world cup was scored by Dennis Amiss of England against India at Lord’s at the 1975 world cup. [The first century for India was scored by Kapil Dev against Zimbabwe in the 1983 world cup at Tunbridge Wells]. The latest century was scored by Adam Gilchrist in the final of 2007 world cup against Srilanka.
1 — Lowest margin of victory is by 1 run for Australia against India at Chennai during the 1987 world cup. The target was 271 runs. In terms of wickets, it was West Indies who won by a wicket with 2 balls remaining against Pakistan at Birmingham during the 1975 world cup.
3 — A major record for India is among partnerships. The first 3 in the list of highest partnerships for any wicket is held by the Fab 3. Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid recorded 318 run partnership for the 2nd wicket against Srilanka at Taunton during the 1999 world cup. Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar has recorded 244 run partnership for the 2nd wicket against Namibia at Pietermaritzburg in the 2003 world cup. Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar recorded a 237* partnership for the 3rd wicket against Kenya at Bristol in the 1999 world cup. The first ever century partnership in world cup is held by DL Amiss and Keith Fletcher of England. The recorded 176 for the 2nd wicket against India at Lord’s in the 1975 world cup. [For India, the first century partnership was 123* between Sunil Gavaskar and Farook Engineer for the 1st wicket against East Africa at Leeds in the 1975 world cup]. The latest partnership was 116 for the second wicket between Sanath Jayasurya and Kumar Sangakkara against Austalia in the 2007 world cup final.
3.24 — Andy Roberts has the best economy rate of 3.24 in world cup history. Roberts recorded this from 1975-1983. Dermot Reeve of England recorded the best economy rate of 0.40 from 5 overs in an innings against Pakistan during the 1992 world cup. [For India, Bishen Singh Bedi recorded the best economy rate of 0.50 from 12 overs in an innings against East Africa at Leeds during the 1975 world cup].
4 — Sourav Ganguly holds the record for the maximum number of centuries in world cups. From 1999 to 2007, in 21 innings, Ganguly has scored 4 hundreds and 3 half centuries. Mark Waugh[22 innings], Sachin Tendulkar [35 innings] and Ricky Ponting [36 innings] has also scored 4 centuries in world cups.
5 — Nathan Astle [1996-2003] and Ijaz Ahmed [1987-1999] holds the record for scoring the maximum number of ducks – 5 each in 22 and 26 innings respectively. Astle has scored 2 centuries and one half century as well.
7 — Glenn McGrath also holds the record for picking up maximum wickets in a single world cup match. McGrath took 7 wickets for 15 runs in 7 overs against Namibia in the 2003 world cup at Potchefstroom. Just the previous day, Ashish Nehra recorded the best bowling figures in a single world cup match for India. Nehra picked up 6 wickets for 23 runs from 10 overs at an economy of 2.30 against England at Durban.
10 — In terms of wickets, India holds the record for winning by 10 wickets with 181 balls remaining against East Africa at Leeds during the 1975 world cup. Among test playing nations, West Indies have won by 10 wickets with 89 balls remaining at Birmingham during the 1983 world cup
13 — Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for maximum half centuries scored in world cup history. From 1992 to 2007, in 35 innings, Sachin has scored 13 half centuries
25 — Ricky Ponting has 25 catches in world cup from 1996-2007, the maximum by a non- wicket keeper in 39 matches. He also holds the record for taking maximum catches – 11, in one world cup – 2003. [For India, Anil Kumble has 14 catches from 18 matches since 1996-2007 (with 8 catches in 1996 WC)] .Mohd. Kaif has the maximum in an innings. He took 4 catches against Srilanka during the 2003 world cup at Johannesburg.
26 — Glenn McGrath picked up 26 wickets from 11 overs in 2007, the maximum in one world cup without any 4 or 5 wickets in an innings.
26.31 — Among the test playing nations, Bangladesh holds the lowest percentage of victory at 26.31 from 1999-2007 from 20 matches [excluding Zimbabwe with 20.23% from 1983-2007 from 45 matches]
27 — Stephen Fleming has captained New Zealand in 27 world cup matches from 1999 to 2007 and won 16 of them. Ricky Ponting has 100% captaincy record in 22 matches from 2003 to 2007. [For India, Mohd. Azharuddin has captained 23 games and won 10].
36 — Lowest total was 36 by Canada against Sri Lanka during the 2003 world cup. Among test playing nations, Pakistan recorded 74 against England at Adelaide during the 1992 world cup which Pak won [India recorded their lowest score of 125 against Australia at Centurion during the 2003 world cup]
39 — Glenn McGrath [1996-2007] and Ricky Ponting [1996-2007] has played 39 world cup matches followed by Sanath Jayasurya [1992-2007] and Wasim Akram [1987-2003] on 38 and Sachin Tendulkar [1992-2007] on 36.
46 — David Shepherd umpired 46 world cup matches from 1983-2003.
52 — Adam Gilchrist holds the record for maximum dismissals in world cup history by a wicket keeper. He has 45 catches and 7 stumpings from 1999-2007 from 31 games with a maximum of 6 catches in one inning. [For India, Kiran More has 12 catches and 6 stumpings from 13 games since 1987-1992. Not a big surprise with Rahul Dravid being second in the list for India by keeping for 12 games – 15 catches and 1 stumping]. Adam Gilchrist also holds the record for maximum dismissals in one world cup. During the 2003 world cup, Gilchrist recorded 21 dismissals behind stumps and all 21 are caught.
59 — Number of extras were conceded by Scotland against Pakistan at Chester-le-Street during the 1999 world cup. Among test playing nations, Pakistan gave away 47 extras against New Zealand at Manchester during the 1999 world cup. [India gave away 51 extras for Zimbabwe during the 1999 world cup at Leicester]
71 — Glenn McGrath holds the record for taking maximum number of wickets in world cup history. From 1996-2007, in 39 matches, McGrath picked up 71 wickets at an average of 18.19 and strike rate of 27.5. This is the best average and best strike rate in world cup history. [For India, Javagal Srinath has taken 44 wickets from 1992-2003 in 34 matches at an average of 27.81]. Chris Harris has the best strike rate of 4.7 in an innings against Scotland at Edinburgh at the 1999 world cup.
74.63 — Highest victory percentage in world cup – Australia with 74.63% from 69 matches since 1975-2007 [India have a victory percentage of 56.14 in the same period from 58 matches]
105 — Martin Snedden of New Zealand conceded the most runs in an innings. He gave away 105 runs from 12 overs (1 maiden) for England at the Oval during the 1983 world cup. [Against India, Javagal Srinath conceded 87 runs from 10 overs in the 2003 world cup final for Australia]. For India, it was Bermuda’s Leverock who gave away 96 runs from 10 overs in the 2007 world cup game.
121.17 — Lance Klusener has the highest strike rate of 121.17 from 11 innings during 1999-2003 without scoring a single century. John Davison has a strike rate of 115.84 from 9 innings during 2003-2007. Kapil Dev has a strike rate of 115.14 since 1979 to 1992 from 24 matches
124 — Lance Klusener has the highest average of 124 from 11 innings since 1999 to 2003. Andrew Symonds follows with 103 from 13 innings since 2003 to 2007. Scott Styris has 69.72 from 16 innings since 2003 to 2007. Vivian Richards has 63.31 from 21 innings during 1975-1987. Rahul Dravid has 61.42 from 21 innings during 1999-2007
188 — Garry Kirsten holds the record for the highest runs scored. He has scored 188* against UAE at Rawalpindi during the 1996 world cup. Among test playing nations, Sourav Ganguly scored 183 against Sri Lanka at Taunton during the 1999 world cup
257 — Highest margin of victory in a world cup is for India against Bermuda in the 2007 world cup at Port of Spain. The margin of victory is 257 runs. Among test playing nations, the highest margin of victory is 215 runs for Australia against New Zealand at St George’s during the 2007 world cup. [India had a victory margin of 183 runs against Sri Lanka at Johannesburg during the 2003 world cup]
268.75 — For a difference, bowlers hold the record for highest strike rate in an innings. Surprisingly, it is Shoaib Akhtar holding the top spot. Akhtar recorded a strike rate of 268.75 during the 2003 world cup against England at Cape Town. Akhtar scored 43 runs from 16 balls with 4 fours and 3 sixers. Brad Hogg has a strike rate of 266.66 against Scotland in the 2007 world cup on way to scoring 40* from 15 balls.
413 — Highest total was 413/5 by India against Bermuda at Port of Spain during the 2007 world cup. Among matches played between test playing nations, Australia scored 377/6 against South Africa in the same world cup [India scored 373/6 against Sri Lanka at Taunton during the 1999 world cup]
673 — Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for scoring 673 runs, the most in a single world cup [2003]. He also holds the same record for the 1996 world cup – 523 runs.
1796 — The record for the most number of runs in World cup is held by Sachin Tendulkar. He has scored 1796 runs in 36 matches since 1992 to 2007 with 4 hundreds and 13 fifties at an average of 57.93 and strike rate of 88.21 with 152 as his highest. He is followed by Ricky Ponting with 1537 runs in 39 matches since 1996 to 2007 with 4 hundreds and 6 fifties at an average of 48.03 and strike rate of 81.06 with 140* as his highest.
Very nice artice abt world cup records…