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Int'l Cricket Council
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
A history of ICC World Cup Finals at Lord's
Lord's will host its first ICC Test World Championship Final this year, the latest in a storied list of showpiece occasions to be staged at the 'Home of Cricket'. Here is a look back at the nine World Cup showpieces which have taken place at the venue so far. 1975 – West Indies v Australia The first-ever ICC Men's Cricket World Cup concluded at Lord's and the West Indies became the inaugural champions by beating Australia in the final. Clive Lloyd top scored with 102 as the Windies set Ian Chappell's side 292 to win before five run outs saw Australia bowled out 17 runs short with eight balls remaining of their 60 overs. 1979 – England v West Indies The Windies defended their title in 1979 and stretched their unbeaten run in ICC Men's Cricket World Cups to two tournaments as they beat hosts England in the final. Viv Richards' 138 helped rescue the Windies from a wobble as they posted 286 before a five-fer for Joel Garner helped bowl England out for 194. 1983 – India v West Indies The trend of batting first and winning the final continued for the 1983 final at Lord's, but this time the West Indies' grip on the trophy ended. India successfully defended their total of 183 with Mohinder Amarnath taking the final wicket as the West Indies were dismissed for 140. 1993 – England v New Zealand The first ICC Women's Cricket World Cup final held at Lord's came 20 years after the first edition of the tournament and just like in 1973 at Edgbaston, the hosts triumphed. England beat New Zealand in this showpiece, Jan Brittin top scoring with 48 to guide her side to 195 for five before Gillian Smith took three wickets as the Kiwis were bowled out 67 runs short. 1999 – Pakistan v Australia Shane Warne spun Australia to their second ICC Men's Cricket World Cup victory with an imperious eight-wicket win over Pakistan in the final in 1999. Warne took four for 33 as Pakistan were bowled out for only 132, with Australia needing just 20.1 overs to chase the total down as Adam Gilchrist scored a 36-ball 54. 2009 – England v New Zealand The first-ever ICC Women's T20 World Cup final was hosted at Lord's as part of a double-header with the men's final. England continued their run of triumphing on home soil as they beat New Zealand, with Katherine Brunt posting three for six as the Kiwis were bowled out for just 85. Claire Taylor steered the ship for England, who took 17 overs to chase down their total, making an unbeaten 39 as her side became the first simultaneous holders of both the T20 and ODI World Cups. 2009 – Sri Lanka v Pakistan Pakistan claimed their first ICC Men's T20 World Cup title as they defeated Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the 2009 final at Lord's. Kumar Sangakkara and Angelo Mathews were required to rescue Sri Lanka from 70 for six, with Sangakkara scoring 64 not out to help his side set Pakistan 139 to win. Shahid Afridi ensured his side made light work of the chase, making an unbeaten 54 from 40 balls as Pakistan got home with eight balls remaining. 2017 – England v India Anya Shrubsole delivered one of the great World Cup performances as England defeated India in a dramatic ICC Women's Cricket World Cup final. Chasing 229, Punam Raut's 86 put India in a strong position, but her dismissal was the beginning of a collapse orchestrated by Shrubsole, whose figures of six for 46 remain the best in a World Cup final and saw England win by just nine runs. 2019 – New Zealand v England Another extraordinary final followed two years later as England finally broke their ICC Men's Cricket World Cup hoodoo in the most dramatic of circumstances. After both sides were tied on 241 after their 50 overs, the match went to a Super Over and boundary countback was needed to split the two teams after both scored 15 – England lifting the trophy by virtue of scoring 26 boundaries to the Kiwis' 17. Jason Roy and Jos Buttler combined to run out Martin Guptill from the final ball of the Super Over, leading to jubilant scenes inside the Home of Cricket as the hosts won, in the immortal words of Ian Smith, 'by the barest of margins'. ENDS
Int'l Cricket Council
5 days ago
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
ICC World Test Championship – The story so far
The third instalment of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) is set to come to a thrilling conclusion as defending champions Australia take on South Africa at Lord's in the final, which begins on 11 June. The Proteas finished top of the league table during the 2023-25 WTC cycle having won 69.44 per cent of the points on offer to them during the six series they contested - winning eight of their 12 Test matches, drawing one and losing three. Meanwhile, Andrew McDonald's side finished second with 67.54per cent of points won and were the only nation to go unbeaten across the six series they were part of. Australia won 13 of their 19 Tests, drawing two, losing four and having 10 points deducted for a slow over-rate infringement, to book their place in the final as they bid to retain a trophy they lifted for the first time in 2023. With the next showpiece looming into view, we look back at the story of the competition so far. The idea The motivation behind the introduction of the ICC World Test Championship was to add context to bilateral Test cricket. With every game during a series worth points in the final standings, all matches therefore have something riding on them, even if a Test match is a 'dead rubber' in terms of the series it is a part of. By creating a dedicated Test cricket competition, the WTC honours the importance of the longest form of the game and ensures a pinnacle event for the format – just as the World Cups are for men and women in the ODI and T20I formats. Format The top nine teams in the ICC Men's Test Team Rankings take part in the WTC. Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the West Indies have all been ever-present in the WTC and they will all feature in the upcoming 2025-27 cycle too. All nine countries participating play three home and three away series over a two-year period, with the opponents decided by mutual agreement, often within existing frameworks of Member rights agreements. The number of matches in each series can differ between a minimum of two matches to a maximum of five. Since the 2021-23 WTC, each Test match contested has been worth 12 points, with the winner taking home all of them, a tie earning each team six points, a draw giving both sides four points and a loss resulting in no points. Points can be deducted for slow over rates. The league table is based upon the percentage of points won by each team, with the top two teams in the standings progressing to the final. The launch A competition to decide the world's best Test team had long been mooted, with the West Indies legend Clive Lloyd suggesting the idea back in 1996. Further talks took place between relevant stakeholders throughout the 2010s and after many years of careful discussions – which considered matters such as the international calendar, other ICC tournaments and existing commitments to broadcasters and sponsors - and meticulous preparations, it was announced on 29 July 2019 that the first WTC would take place over the next two years, with that summer's Ashes series acting as the competition's curtain raiser. During the launch, England's all-time leading Test wicket taker James Anderson said: 'Test cricket is the pinnacle of our sport. It is the very essence of cricket, and the majority of players want to strive to play the purest form of the game. 'The ICC World Test Championship is another brilliant initiative for the sport, adding context and relevance to every Test series. Every Test matters, but even more so now.' Previous finals New Zealand triumphed in the inaugural showpiece of the World Test Championship in 2021 at the Rose Bowl. The BLACKCAPS travelled to Southampton to take on India and won the rain-affected contest by eight wickets – with the reserve day being required due to a washed-out opening day. After bowling India out for 217, with Kyle Jamieson the pick of the bowlers with five for 31, New Zealand responded with 249 in their first innings. Facing a deficit of 32 runs, India could only muster 170 in their second innings leaving Kane Williamson and his men needing 139 for victory. The captain was there unbeaten on 52 alongside Ross Taylor, who hit the winning runs to deliver New Zealand's men, their first ICC tournament win since 2000. Speaking post-match, Williamson said: 'It is the pinnacle, being involved in the final. 'For us it is a very proud moment in our history and a proud moment, just as a team, to stick to what we do well and come away with the win, which is a really great feeling." Two years later, it was Australia who took the spoils at The Oval. They beat India by 209 runs, and in doing so, became the first men's team to win every ICC competition on offer to them. Travis Head starred with the bat – hitting a notable 163 – to help his side compile 469 in their first innings. India responded with 296 and, after Australia's second innings effort of 270 for eight declared, were faced with a target of 444 for victory. Rohit Sharma's side could only make 234 as Australia added another major ICC trophy to their cabinet. 'Everyone played really well, and we will savour this for a few days,' said captain Pat Cummins after the match. 'This is our favourite format; we grew up watching Test cricket. It challenges you. When you win, it is the format you get most satisfaction with.' With two enthralling finals already part of the WTC's burgeoning history, all eyes will be on Lord's as the next chapter is set to be written in north London.
Int'l Cricket Council
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
West Indies to honour 1975 World Cup win at 8th Awards Gala
The West Indies team, led by Clive Lloyd, went through the 1975 Men's Cricket World Cup unbeaten, defeating Australia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the group stages and New Zealand in the semi-final. West Indies faced Australia once again in the final, where captain Clive Lloyd led from the front with a brilliant 102, guiding his team to 291/8 in 60 overs. In reply, Ian Chappell's half-century gave Australia a solid start, but three sharp run-outs by Viv Richards turned the tide. Australia slumped to 233 for nine before a valiant last-wicket stand of 41 between Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson brought them close. However, a fifth run-out ended their innings at 274, handing the West Indies a 17-run win and the inaugural Men's Cricket World Cup title.
The Guardian
12-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Why India's Champions Trophy win felt hollow
They can tear you apart with a thousand incisive cuts or systematically grind you down to a fine powder. They have a bottomless well of talent with multiple world class options in every position. Winning is not only expected but demanded, both from within the camp and throughout their legions of loyal supporters that have turned them into a commercial behemoth. No, not India, who eased past New Zealand to claim the Champions Trophy this weekend. We're talking about Ricky Ponting's Australia. Actually, it's Clive Lloyd's West Indians. Or should that be Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls, Richie McCaw's All Blacks, or the Americans under Christie Rampone, Carli Lloyd and Megan Rapinoe? All sporting dynasties share common traits. It's not just that they win, but that their winning feels inevitable. They win ugly and they win beautifully. They might not foster much love beyond their own fanbase but there is no denying that they are respected. The rest of us can't help but feel a little jealous when yet another trophy is added to the pile. Rohit Sharma's India are slightly different. They have all the right ingredients, and their record of 23 wins from their previous 24 matches in ICC events puts them in the conversation for the greatest white-ball outfit of all time. But rather than elicit admiration, their latest conquest has been largely met with shrugs of indifference. The loaded dice, the gerrymandering of the tournament's schedule, the endless riches, the stadium announcer acting as a cheerleader at a venue that was ostensibly neutral; this all combined to bleach the romance from their achievement. Worst of all was the sight of Jay Shah, the chair of the International Cricket Council and the most powerful man in the game, winking at the cameras after dishing out hugs and high-fives to the victorious players after their four-wicket win. Shah is evidently a proud Indian, was the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India for five years and is the son of Narendra Modi's right hand man, but this smacked of naked favouritism. Say what you want about Gianni Infantino, but it's hard to imagine the head of Fifa acting with the same lack of self-awareness if Switzerland were to win the European Championship. To point out that India now effectively runs global cricket is to state the obvious. After two seasons in the red, Cricket South Africa reported profits of £34.5m for the 2023-24 financial year after an all-format visit of India. 'In the four-year cycle there will be two or three years where we make quite massive losses,' said CSA's chief executive, Pholetsi Moseki. 'But there should be at least one year where we make significant profit so it can cover us in the years where we make those losses.' India's influence extends beyond the international game. Teams in five domestic leagues, including all six in the SA20 in South Africa, are little more than satellite projects of Indian Premier League franchises. As Moseki added, 'India is too important in the cricket ecosystem for all members, including the ICC itself. India will continue being an important touring team for all countries. To try to divorce yourself from India is not realistic for any country.' Does this give India the right to call the shots in cricket? Can anyone do anything besides 'cry more', as zealous Indian fans have suggested on social media, when a team that do not need any help winning trophies get to play all their tournament matches in one stadium while the rest of the competition is forced to zigzag across Asia? Empires don't tend to treat rebels with leniency and any board that stands up to India alone would probably find themselves alienated and destitute. But what if every other board, including England and Australia, collectively drew a line in the sand? Could the rest of the cricket world prove Moseki wrong and survive without the most powerful entity in the sport? Leaders of European nations are contemplating a similar dilemma as they make plans to shore up the continent's security without the support of Donald Trump's US. This column won't weigh in on matters that are far more serious than the fate of a leather ball, but as prime ministers, presidents and generals met in Brussels last week to assess Europe's battlefield capabilities, it's worth playing with a parallel hypothetical. As of last year, under the ICC's revamped revenue-distribution model, the BCCI now takes home nearly 40% of the governing body's net surplus earnings, amounting to roughly $230m annually. But that's still less than all the other boards, including 96 associate nations, added together. And even though England's share of 6.89% is a long way back in second place, if cricket were to act as a democracy rather than the plutocracy that it is, real change could be possible. India could be told to play fair or play on their own. Who knows, maybe they'd even reconsider the way funds are distributed to those in need rather than doling out crumbs only when they visit foreign lands. Admittedly this is a pipe dream. And why should India give up what they've created? For most of cricket's history they lived under English and Australian influence. Now they're calling the shots. Market forces are in their favour. They win tournaments without Jasprit Bumrah. Their batters are artists. Their spinners are warlocks. We should be in love with them. It's a pity we're not. In years gone by, even 10 years ago, I'd have said most English cricketers would have said they'd want to play Test cricket for England as the peak, the pinnacle. But I think those answers are getting less and less. There are fewer and fewer players actually saying that is the pinnacle because of the opportunities that there are around the world' – Jimmy Anderson, speaking to the BBC, raises concerns around the future of Test cricket in the country. It's the 32nd over of Australia's innings against India in the Champions Trophy semi-final. Having won the toss and chosen to bat first, the Aussies have lost wickets at regular intervals. Steve Smith is there on 67 with Alex Carey in support on 13. India, though, are in complete control. Smith bunts Varun Chakravarthy to the deep on the leg-side where Virat Kohli gathers and throws towards the non-striker's end. The bowler allows it to bounce past the stumps rather than field it himself and his captain, Rohit Sharma, has to back up. No harm, no foul, right? Wrong! Sharma lets rip at his bowler, admonishing him for some shoddy work, taking issue with what seemed like only the slightest lapse in concentration and commitment. No run was conceded, but that wasn't the point. Under Sharma's watch, only perfection is permitted. It might be hard to love the Indian team with all the advantages they enjoy, but you've got to hand it to Sharma who has turned this outfit into one of the most formidable winning machines cricket has ever seen. If you include all tournaments with five teams or more – in order to make space for the Asia Cup and World Series – Sharma is now the joint-most successful captain of all time with four titles, level with Imran Khan, Ricky Ponting and MS Dhoni. His 27 wins from 30 ICC tournament matches means he has a win ratio of 9:1, better than any other leader in history. But he's not just leading with tough talks and scathing looks. His bat is doing plenty as well. Thanks to some handy stats work from Cricinfo, we know that Sharma, at 37, remains a force at the top of the order. In the first 10 overs of one-day internationals he averages 61.52 and strikes at 119.62 since February 2022. His overall average of 60.93 is the best of all batters since January 2023 and he is the most destructive batter over 35 in the format's history. Since reaching the same age as Andrew Strauss was when he retired from the game, Sharma has been hitting at a strike-rate of 117.37. Most people slow down as they get on. Sharma is speeding up. He's not done yet and shot down suggestions that he'll be hanging up the boots any time soon. With a T20 World Cup on home soil in 2026, and a 50-over edition a year later, you wouldn't bet against him adding two more major prizes to his tally. When South Africa's captain, Ali Bacher, caught Australia's Allan Connolly to secure a 323-run win in Port Elizabeth, now known as Gqeberha, he couldn't have known that it would be his last action on the field for his country. On 10 March 1970, the South Africans completed a stunning 4-0 series sweep of Bill Lawry's team with Graeme Pollock and Barry Richards averaging in the 70s with the bat and Mike Procter causing havoc with the ball, claiming 26 wickets at 13.57. But a series of events starting with England's selection of Basil D'Oliveira, who was barred from representing his native South Africa because of the colour of his skin, meant that the cricket world finally turned its back on the apartheid state. After 21 years in isolation, South Africa returned with a brief tour of India in 1991. 'A triumph that felt as immaculately controlled as the months of sabre-rattling and politicking that preceded it'. Jonathan Liew reports on India's Champions Trophy triumph. Kate Cross has admitted that England may have lost fans after the Women's Ashes debacle and that there may be 'cultural' issues within the set-up. Matt Hughes talks to Todd Boehly's associate Jonathan Goldstein about why Chelsea's owners have bought into the Hundred. Meanwhile Andrew Flintoff could step in as England's white-ball coach should Brendon McCullum take a break before the Ashes. As for England's white-ball captain, Barney Ronay reckons Ben Stokes, cricket's last action hero, should take the job on. … by writing to Daniel here. To subscribe to The Spin, just visit this page and follow the instructions.
