ICC Cricket World Cup 2019: 4 unnoticed records from previous World Cups

2019 has arrived and the cricket fans across the globe are eagerly waiting to witness the top teams battle it out for the most prestigious trophy in the sport.

11 World Cups have taken place in different parts of the world including England, Australia, the Asian subcontinent, South Africa and West Indies, and each tournament has brought with it different kinds of expectations and excitement.

The first couple of editions were dominated by the West Indies whereas the third edition saw the underdogs India emerge victorious. The next three editions saw Australia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka respectively take home the trophy.

Australia then exerted their dominance, winning the next three World Cups under Waugh and Ponting’s captaincy. In 2011, India became the first country to win a World Cup on home soil following which Australia replicated the feat in 2015.

Australia has the highest winning percentage in the tournament, with India a distant second. Sachin Tendulkar is the highest run-getter with 2278 runs while Glenn McGrath tops the list of bowlers with most wickets (71).

These are some of the better-known records in World Cup history. Here, we look at some that flew under the radar.

#1 Highest partnership in World Cup history – Marlon Samuels and Chris Gayle vs Zimbabwe (2015)

West Indies took on Zimbabwe in a group B match in Canberra in the 2015 World Cup. Apart from the fact that it was completely one-sided, it was the batting performance by the Windies that stole the limelight.

Having opted to bat first, West Indies lost Dwayne Smith without a run on the board. Marlon Samuels joined Chris Gayle at the middle. The pair was impeccable from the start, putting up a very good show for the spectators.

Gayle was desperate for a big knock, with his previous century having come 19 months ago. On the other hand, Samuels was looking to cement his spot in the XI. They put together 372 runs for the second wicket, which is the highest ever for any wicket.

Gayle struck a double century off 138 balls which included 10 fours and 16 sixes. Samuels pitched in with an outstanding knock of 133 which was his highest ODI score at the time. This propelled the team’s total to 372 which won them the game by 73 runs.

#2 Most catches in a World Cup career - Ricky Ponting (28)

Ricky Ponting

Along with the runs you score and the wickets you take, fielding plays a key role in the success of a team.

We have been privileged enough to witness some of the greatest fielders in the game take part in the World Cup, including Australian legend Ricky Ponting. His hand-eye coordination enabled him to grab the toughest catches and hit the stumps from any position on the ground.

In the 2003 World Cup, Ponting took 11 catches which is a record for most catches in a single World Cup. In addition to this, he also holds the record for grabbing 28 catches in the World Cups he has played which is the highest in tournament’s history.

#3 Most World Cup matches umpired – David Shepherd (46)

David Shepherd

No matter how good you are on the field, the outcome of a match can often boil down to crucial decision making by the umpire. With the advent of technology, umpiring errors have reduced significantly.

But back in the day, that wasn't the case which made the job of an umpire all the more difficult. The 80s and the 90s produced some of the finest umpires in cricket. This includes the famous pair of Dickie Bird and David Shepherd.

David Shepherd started his career in 1981 and umpired for two and half decades. In the limited-overs format, he stood in 172 ODIs that included three consecutive World Cup finals in 1996,1999 and 2003.

He umpired in 46 World Cup matches, which is the most by any umpire. To immortalize his service to the sport, the trophy for the ‘ICC Umpire of the Year’ was named after him.

#4 Most World Cup matches hosted by a ground – Headingley, Leeds (12)

The Headingley Cricket ground

The first three editions of the World Cup were played in England before slowly expanding to other countries later on. England have, till date, hosted four World Cups while the sub-continent countries have hosted the tournament on three occasions.

Several grounds have been a part of key moments in cricketing history. One such moment was at the Headingley Stadium in the 1999 World Cup when Herschelle Gibbs dropped Steve Waugh in a do-or-die game for Australia. The rest, as they say, is history.

Headingley has hosted the most World Cup matches (12) followed by Trent Bridge, Old Trafford and Edgbaston with 11 matches each.