5 Records held by Australia in World Cup history

If there's any team in World cricket which can affirm their dominance for a major part of the World's cricketing history - it is none other than Australia. However, the vintage West Indian might give them a run for their money but Australia's prolonged consistency, era after era, sees them as the front-runners in the list of most successful teams in the history of the game.

The men in green and gold have made a strong case for themselves ever since their first World Cup win in 1987. Under the leadership of Allan Border, Australia won its first major World title after falling short once in the inaugural edition in 1975. Ever since, there has been no looking back for Australia, especially in the ODI format of the game.

Every generation, the Australian cricket setup throws up special talents that take the centre stage to be counted amongst the best players of that era. However, the current state of affairs in Australian circuit is not a great reflection of the legacy of the sport in the nation.

Invariably, Australia is always a tough opponent to beat, especially in the ICC tournaments. They always tend to emerge as a strong contender to stake a claim for the coveted trophy.

With World Cup just a few months away, though the Aussies are no more a force to reckon with, still they might spring in a surprise by making the cut for the final four teams in the tournament.

In our attempt to take a ride down the memory lane, let's relive their dominance in World Cups with some of the records held by Australian team:

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#1 Most World Cup titles (5)

Australia's five World Cup winning teams

This is one of the stat that reveals a whole lot about Australia's dominance, especially in World Cups in the past 30 years or so.

The Aussies boast of a record that manifests their supremacy over World cricket for such a long period of time. With as many as five World Cups titles under their belt, Australia is undoubtedly the most successful team in the history of the World Cup.

With a winning percentage of 75.30%, the Kangaroos have emerged on the better side of the result on 62 occasions in their record 84 appearances at the World Cup.

This is the best winning ratio for any team in the World, with South Africa ranked second with a winning percentage of 65.45 in 55 matches.

#2 Highest team total (417/6 vs Afghanistan at Perth in 2015)

David Warner led the charge with a 178-run knock to rout Afghanistan

A feat that was previously held by India until World Cup in 2015, the Aussies managed to get past the highest team total set by any team in an ICC World Cup fixture. Being the host nation alongside New Zealand in 2015, Australia registered the highest team total against Afganistan at Perth in 2015.

In a Pool A match, the hosts clobbered the inexperienced bowling attack to all parts of the ground. Doing the majority of the damage, David Warner led from the front and registered his then highest ODI score of 178 runs in just 133 balls to guide his team's total past the 400-run mark.

It was an all-round batting effort as Glenn Maxwell delivered the knock-out punch to smash his way to a 39-ball 88.

It was a thrashing by the hands of Aussies that Afghanistan were beaten by a margin of 275 runs - largest in the history of a World cup encounter.

#3 Longest winning streak (25 matches)

Australia's winning streak began with their World Cup win in 1999

At the turn of the millennium, the Australian team was a force to reckon with. They performed like invincibles and conquered almost every territory in both the formats of the game.

They had mighty effective players who could inflict match-winning performances on their day. It was courtesy such remarkable talent that the Aussies saw a dominating run in the World Cups during that era.

They enjoyed the longest winning streak of 25 matches - most for any team in the WC history. With their win against Pakistan in the Final of 1999 World Cup at Lord's, Australia was undefeated for the next two World Cups in 2003 and 2007 to emerge victorious on both the occasions.

It was only in the 2011 WC in a fixture against Sri Lanka when the defending Champions saw an end to their winning streak after the game was abandoned due to rain.

Later, they were eventually knocked out of the World Cup in the Quarter-Finals, preventing them to make it to the Semis for a record fifth consecutive time in a row.

#4 Smallest margin of victory (1 run)

Australia emerged winners by 1 run against India at Chennai in 1987

If the Aussies knew how to win with dominating the show, they also had the players who could hold their nerves in nail-biting finishes. If they boast of securing a victory by the largest margin of runs, they are also proud winners by taking games till the very end.

It was not once but twice when Australia secured victory by merely a margin of a run. Interestingly, both the occasions unfolded when India was at the receiving end.

The first incident takes us back to the World Cup in 1987 when India failed to chase down 271 and fell short by a run to fold out at 269 on the second last ball of the match. Despite heroics from K Srikanth and Navjot Sidhu, India succumbed to defeat in a last-ball thriller in the Reliance Cup.

The feat repeated, this time in the Benson and Hedges World Cup in 1992 when once again the hosts emerged winners by a solitary run despite a captain's knock from Azharuddin.

#5 Most appearances in a CWC Final (7)

Australia are the defending World Cup champions

This speaks volumes about Australia's consistency at the big stages. The team has always brought their A game to the fore when it comes to the knockouts in ICC tournaments. They have a record of making a record seven appearances in the World Cup finals with emerging winners on five occasions.

Australia first made it to the Final in 1975 when they were undone by a much stronger team in the West Indies. However, this didn't bother their confidence as they managed to make it to the finals once again in 1987. Being aware of the World Cup pressure, Australia were at ease to account for their first ICC World Cup against England in the ultimate fixture.

In next editions of the cricket's most prestigious tournament, Australia made it to the finals on five occasions to emerge out winners four times. The only other time they fell short was in the WC 1996 when a resurgent Sri Lankan side got the better of them to win their first ICC Trophy.