A quizzer's delight
Sehwag's five, Ponting's four, Joyce's two, Bracewell's 310, and other lesser-known World Cup facts
Steven Lynch
14-Mar-2011
Asif Iqbal: first a World Cup captain, then a Test captain • PA Photos
The non-playing winners
Sunil Valson, the uncapped Delhi left-arm medium-pacer, was part of the victorious Indian squad at the 1983 World Cup. But the unfortunate Valson didn't play in any of India's eight games during the tournament - they had a remarkably settled team, in which nine players were ever-present - and indeed he never played an international match of any kind, being jettisoned by the Indian selectors after the World Cup victory. The Australian offspinner Nathan Hauritz is a similar case: he was called up for the 2003 World Cup when Shane Warne was ruled out, but didn't play. Hauritz is missing the current World Cup himself with injury, but unlike Valson, though, Hauritz has played several other international matches for his country.
Sunil Valson, the uncapped Delhi left-arm medium-pacer, was part of the victorious Indian squad at the 1983 World Cup. But the unfortunate Valson didn't play in any of India's eight games during the tournament - they had a remarkably settled team, in which nine players were ever-present - and indeed he never played an international match of any kind, being jettisoned by the Indian selectors after the World Cup victory. The Australian offspinner Nathan Hauritz is a similar case: he was called up for the 2003 World Cup when Shane Warne was ruled out, but didn't play. Hauritz is missing the current World Cup himself with injury, but unlike Valson, though, Hauritz has played several other international matches for his country.
The World Cup captain
Asif Iqbal captained Pakistan in two World Cups - 1975 and 1979 - before he skippered them in a Test match. He finally did lead them out in a Test against India in 1979-80 - and promptly retired at the end of that series.
Asif Iqbal captained Pakistan in two World Cups - 1975 and 1979 - before he skippered them in a Test match. He finally did lead them out in a Test against India in 1979-80 - and promptly retired at the end of that series.
Last-wicket winners
To date there have been four one-wicket victories in World Cup matches, two of them in 2007, when South Africa beat Sri Lanka, and England pipped West Indies. But the most famous of them - and the one that involved the highest last-ditch stand - came at Edgbaston in 1975, when West Indies dipped to 203 for 9 chasing Pakistan's 266. However, from that deeply unpromising position Deryck Murray and Andy Roberts nervelessly knocked off the 64 runs required to seal victory - one that confirmed West Indies as the tournament favourites. Pakistan returned the favour in 1987, defeating West Indies by one wicket in Lahore, in the only World Cup match to date in which the winning runs came off the last ball of the game.
To date there have been four one-wicket victories in World Cup matches, two of them in 2007, when South Africa beat Sri Lanka, and England pipped West Indies. But the most famous of them - and the one that involved the highest last-ditch stand - came at Edgbaston in 1975, when West Indies dipped to 203 for 9 chasing Pakistan's 266. However, from that deeply unpromising position Deryck Murray and Andy Roberts nervelessly knocked off the 64 runs required to seal victory - one that confirmed West Indies as the tournament favourites. Pakistan returned the favour in 1987, defeating West Indies by one wicket in Lahore, in the only World Cup match to date in which the winning runs came off the last ball of the game.
The boundary man
Virender Sehwag has launched all five of India's innings in this World Cup to date by hitting the first ball for four. Precise records aren't available for all matches, but for once it seems safe to pronounce that this is unprecedented - in World Cup or all one-day international cricket. The suffering bowlers (so far) were Shafiul Islam, Jimmy Anderson (a hard chance to Graeme Swann in the slips), Boyd Rankin, Mudassar Bukhari and Dale Steyn.
Virender Sehwag has launched all five of India's innings in this World Cup to date by hitting the first ball for four. Precise records aren't available for all matches, but for once it seems safe to pronounce that this is unprecedented - in World Cup or all one-day international cricket. The suffering bowlers (so far) were Shafiul Islam, Jimmy Anderson (a hard chance to Graeme Swann in the slips), Boyd Rankin, Mudassar Bukhari and Dale Steyn.
Bemedalled
Should Australia make it to this year's final in Mumbai, Ricky Ponting will (barring injury) become the first man to play in five World Cup finals. He already has three winners' medals, from 1999, 2003 and 2007, as have his now-retired team-mates Glenn McGrath (who also played in the last four finals, including the defeat to Sri Lanka in 1996) and Adam Gilchrist. Spare a thought for Graham Gooch, who played in three finals for England (1979, 1987 and 1992) and lost the lot.
Should Australia make it to this year's final in Mumbai, Ricky Ponting will (barring injury) become the first man to play in five World Cup finals. He already has three winners' medals, from 1999, 2003 and 2007, as have his now-retired team-mates Glenn McGrath (who also played in the last four finals, including the defeat to Sri Lanka in 1996) and Adam Gilchrist. Spare a thought for Graham Gooch, who played in three finals for England (1979, 1987 and 1992) and lost the lot.
Early arrival
After five legitimate balls against Sri Lanka in Pietermaritzburg in 2003, Bangladesh were looking at a scoreboard that read 5 for 4. Chaminda Vaas took a hat-trick with the first three balls of the match, then, after a four and a wide, Sanwar Hossain was trapped leg-before. Alok Kapali, who might have been expecting to put his feet up in the dressing room for a while, survived the sixth delivery: he remains the only No. 6 batsman to have been required to face a ball in the first over of any international match.
After five legitimate balls against Sri Lanka in Pietermaritzburg in 2003, Bangladesh were looking at a scoreboard that read 5 for 4. Chaminda Vaas took a hat-trick with the first three balls of the match, then, after a four and a wide, Sanwar Hossain was trapped leg-before. Alok Kapali, who might have been expecting to put his feet up in the dressing room for a while, survived the sixth delivery: he remains the only No. 6 batsman to have been required to face a ball in the first over of any international match.
Don't we know you?
Dublin-born Ed Joyce made his one-day international debut for England in 2006, against an Ireland team containing his brother Dominick. The following year Joyce played for England in the World Cup, and scored 1 against Ireland. He was ignored by England after that World Cup, and decided to re-qualify for the land of his birth. Given special dispensation by the ICC to play for Ireland in the 2011 World Cup, Joyce made his one-day international debut for them there - and faced England in his second match, scoring 32. But for injury, the opposition that day would almost certainly have included Eoin Morgan, who had made the reverse transition from Ireland to England. Kepler Wessels did something similar: after playing for Australia in the 1983 tournament, he made his World Cup debut for his native South Africa against Australia at Sydney in 1992, and made 81 not out.
Dublin-born Ed Joyce made his one-day international debut for England in 2006, against an Ireland team containing his brother Dominick. The following year Joyce played for England in the World Cup, and scored 1 against Ireland. He was ignored by England after that World Cup, and decided to re-qualify for the land of his birth. Given special dispensation by the ICC to play for Ireland in the 2011 World Cup, Joyce made his one-day international debut for them there - and faced England in his second match, scoring 32. But for injury, the opposition that day would almost certainly have included Eoin Morgan, who had made the reverse transition from Ireland to England. Kepler Wessels did something similar: after playing for Australia in the 1983 tournament, he made his World Cup debut for his native South Africa against Australia at Sydney in 1992, and made 81 not out.
One horror run...
Keith Arthurton, a bouncy left-hander from Nevis who was also a predatory fielder, looked set to play an important part in West Indies' campaign at the 1996 World Cup. But his five innings produced scores of 1, 0, 0, 1 and 0, and his international career never really recovered.
Keith Arthurton, a bouncy left-hander from Nevis who was also a predatory fielder, looked set to play an important part in West Indies' campaign at the 1996 World Cup. But his five innings produced scores of 1, 0, 0, 1 and 0, and his international career never really recovered.
... and another
The Zimbabwe legspinner Adam Huckle faced two balls in his World Cup career - and was dismissed by both of them. Both were in 1999, and the second golden duck came as part of a Saqlain Mushtaq hat-trick. Shem Ngoche, the Kenyan slow left-armer, is threatening Huckle's record in 2011: before Kenya's match against Australia on March 13, he had faced three balls in this World Cup... and been dismissed by all three, none of which he managed to hit.
The Zimbabwe legspinner Adam Huckle faced two balls in his World Cup career - and was dismissed by both of them. Both were in 1999, and the second golden duck came as part of a Saqlain Mushtaq hat-trick. Shem Ngoche, the Kenyan slow left-armer, is threatening Huckle's record in 2011: before Kenya's match against Australia on March 13, he had faced three balls in this World Cup... and been dismissed by all three, none of which he managed to hit.
One for 310
The not-so-proud owner of the worst bowling average in World Cup history is the New Zealand offspinner John Bracewell, who took 1 for 310 in seven matches, for an average of 310. His sole victim was Ian Botham, caught and bowled at Edgbaston in 1983. Bracewell's record is under slight threat in this tournament, as Berend Westdijk had 1 for 173 before Netherlands' match with Bangladesh. The best bowling average in the World Cup is held by an unlikely figure indeed: Mohammad Yousuf took a wicket (Christopher Mpofu of Zimbabwe) with his only delivery, in 2007, for a perfect average of 0.00. Imposing a rather more sensible qualification of 10 wickets, the leading average is 5.63 by Gary Gilmour (11 wickets for 62 in 1975), with Imran Tahir (8.90) not far behind as I write.
The not-so-proud owner of the worst bowling average in World Cup history is the New Zealand offspinner John Bracewell, who took 1 for 310 in seven matches, for an average of 310. His sole victim was Ian Botham, caught and bowled at Edgbaston in 1983. Bracewell's record is under slight threat in this tournament, as Berend Westdijk had 1 for 173 before Netherlands' match with Bangladesh. The best bowling average in the World Cup is held by an unlikely figure indeed: Mohammad Yousuf took a wicket (Christopher Mpofu of Zimbabwe) with his only delivery, in 2007, for a perfect average of 0.00. Imposing a rather more sensible qualification of 10 wickets, the leading average is 5.63 by Gary Gilmour (11 wickets for 62 in 1975), with Imran Tahir (8.90) not far behind as I write.
Eating his words
India's record in the first two World Cups was so dire - they had only won one match, against lowly East Africa in the inaugural tournament in 1975 - that many had written them off before the 1983 tournament. David Frith, the editor of Wisden Cricket Monthly, was one of the doubters - and gamely ate the offending words from his tournament preview in the magazine (washed down with a spot of red wine) after India romped to victory over West Indies in the final at Lord's.
India's record in the first two World Cups was so dire - they had only won one match, against lowly East Africa in the inaugural tournament in 1975 - that many had written them off before the 1983 tournament. David Frith, the editor of Wisden Cricket Monthly, was one of the doubters - and gamely ate the offending words from his tournament preview in the magazine (washed down with a spot of red wine) after India romped to victory over West Indies in the final at Lord's.
Steven Lynch is the editor of the Cricinfo Guide to International Cricket 2011. And Ask Steven is now on Facebook