The next ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 West Indies will start from 11/03/2007. Jamaica will host the Opening Ceremony. The ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 will be played between 16 teams divided into 4 groups. Top two teams from each group will then be taken to Super 8 formate group. From these top 8 teams semi-finalists will be decided.
Cricket World Cup tournaments started in 1975. Cricket was not much popular those days as it is popular now a days. In the first world cup hosted by England, the origin of cricket game, there was only 6 Test Cricket playing nations viz. India, West Indies, England, Australia, Pakistan and New Zealand. Even Srilanka was not in the group of Test playing nations. The fist Cricket Wrold cup was played between 8 nations, the 6 Test playing nations along with Srilanka and East Africa.
First Cricket World Cup 1975 The first ever cricket world cup hosted by England was played between England, Australia, New Zealand, West Indies, India, Pakistan, Srilanka and East Africa. This was sponsered by Prudential Insurance Company and hence named Prudential World Cup. West Indies won this first ever held Cricket World Cup beating Australia by 17 runs. West Indies made 291/8 in 60 overs with Clive Lloyd 102 runs off just 85 balls but Australia fall short by 17 runs.
Second Cricket World Cup 1979 This was the second Cricket World Cup played in 1979, once again hosted by England. And once again was sponsered by Prudential Insurance Company and hence named Prudential World Cup. This was played between Australia, Canada, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Srilanka and West Indies. By first batting in the final West Indies made 286/9 with the help of superb batting from Sir Vivian Richards 138*. England could not acheieve this score and lost the game by 92 runs.
Third Cricket World Cup 1983 The third Cricket World Cup played in 1983, once again hosted by England and was sponsered by Prudential Insurance Company. This was played between Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Srilanka, West Indies and Zimbabwe. This world cup is rememberd in the histroy of indian cricket and in the history of world cricket too. The final was played between India and West Indies. In the first innings India made only 183 in 54.4 overs. No one hope that the India could win this game with such low score of 183. But it was surprize for all the cricket fans and India restrict West Indies to only 140 and won the world cup by 43 runs. Mohinder Amarnath named man of the match for his allrounder performance.
Fourth Cricket World Cup 1987 This is the first time the Cricket World Cup hosted out side England since the begaining of cricket world cup. This was jointly hosted by India and Pakistan and sponserd by Reliance company and so named Reliance World Cup. It was played between Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Srilanka, West Indies and Zimbabwe. The final was played at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, India between Australia and England. Playing first Australia made 253/7 in 50 overs and win the world cup by 7 runs to England. David Boon was named man of the match for his 75 runs.
Fifth Cricket World Cup 1992 The Fifth Cricket World Cup was played between Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Srilanka, West Indies, Zimbabwe and South Africa. It was Jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand called the Benson and Hedges World Cup. Final was played between Pakistan and England and Pakistan win the game by 22 runs, Wasim Akram named man of the match.
Sixth Cricket World Cup 1996 The Sixth Cricket World Cup was jointly hosted by three countries India, Pakistan and Srilanka. It was called Wills World Cup. It was played between Australia, England, India, Kenya, New Zealand, Netherlands, Pakistan, South Africa, Srilanka, United Arab Emirates, West Indies and Zimbabwe. This world cup was rememberd for three things, first the winner is one of the hosting nations, second first time win by the team batting second in world cup final and the third they are the winner througout without loosing single match. Srin Lanka won the world cup beating Australia by 7 wickets. Aravinda da Silva named man of the match for his 107*.
Seventh Cricket World Cup 1999 Seventh Cricket World Cup was called ICC World Cup and hosted by England again. It was played between Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Kenya, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Scotland, Srilanka, West Indies and Zimbabwe. The final was played at Lords between Australia and Pakistan. Australia easily beat Pakistan by 8 wickets in the low scoring game. Batting first Pakistan made only 132, the lowest total ever recorded in a World Cup final. Shane Warne named man of the match for his superb bowling performance.
Eighth Cricket World Cup 2003 The Eighth Cricket World Cup was played between Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, England, India, Kenya, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Scotland, Srilanka, West Indies and Zimbabwe. It was jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimambwe and Kenya. It was also called ICC Cricket World Cup. The final was played between Australia and India, with Australia win the match by 125 runs. This is the third time Australia win the world cup, the highest number of time any nation who won the world cup.
