 |
| England's tactics left a lot to be desired, batting as if they were playing in a Test match |
Australia shed much of their strength in the 1979 World Cup after Australian TV tycoon Kerry Packer rocked the establishment by luring top players to his World Series Cricket in 1977.
The 1975 runners-up looked a pale shadow of their former selves as their Packer players were not considered for the tournament. An under-strength side, led by Kim Hughes, failed to make it to the semi-finals.
The West Indies not only included their Packer players but also reinstated Clive Lloyd as captain. In the event, the nucleus of the side remained unchanged as many players who figured in the 1975 Cup triumph were retained.
The fearsome pace attack, comprising Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, Joel Garner and Colin Croft, and exciting stroke-makers in Viv Richards, Lloyd, Collis King and Gordon Greenidge helped the West Indies retain the Cup.
Cricketers still wore whites and the format remained the same as matches were 60-overs-a-side affairs completed on just five dates.
England replaced Australia as serious challengers to the West Indies and the ICC hosted a tournament for the first time for associate members to pick two qualifers -- Sri Lanka and Canada.
The West Indies, England, Pakistan and New Zealand qualified for the semi-finals. The only surprise was Sri Lanka's victory over India in a group match which was to help them gain Test status in early 1980s.
The semi-finals were evenly contested, with England beating New Zealand by nine runs at Old Trafford and the West Indies prevailing over Pakistan by 43 runs at the Oval.
The West Indies were in trouble at 99-4 in the final after being put in to bat by England skipper Mike Brearley, but found saviours in Richards and King who put on 139 for the fifth wicket.
King played the innings of his life, smashing 86 off 66 balls with three sixes and 10 fours. Richards cracked three sixes and 11 fours in his 157-ball 138 not out to ensure England chased a stiff 287-run target.
England's tactics left a lot to be desired, batting as if they were playing in a Test match.
Openers Geoff Boycott and Brearley put on 129, but consumed more than half of the stipulated overs. The remaining batsmen found it difficult to keep pace with the required run-rate and England lost by 92 runs.
The last eight England wickets fell for 11 runs, with Garner doing the maximum damage with 5-38 off 11 overs.
The West Indies skipper said the victory came at the right time.
"The 1979 World Cup victory was one which I felt meant even more than usual for West Indies cricket," said Lloyd.
"We had all gone through a difficult period and this was the perfect way to signal an end to the problems. West Indies cricket was now back on its feet again."
Lloyd's West Indians looked set to complete a hat-trick in 1983 before being stunned by Kapil's "Devils" from India.
0 comments:
Post a Comment