Information I know About Cricket’s First World Cup

The inaugural Cricket World Cup was hosted by England. Four years after the institution of the one-day format of cricket, the first multination Cricket World Cup was organized in England from 7th to 21st June, in 1975. As the tournament was Sponsored by the Prudential Assurance Company, it was called the ‘Prudential World Cup’.

In one of the articles published in a magazine, I came to know that besides the six Test-playing countries of that time like Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and West Indies, even sri Lanka and a composite team from East Africa participated, making eight teams in the tournament.

It was a 60 overs-a-side contest. The players turned out in traditional white clothing and red cricket balls were used. All the matches were played in daylight hours, hence the game started early.

Indian team managed winning only against East Africa. Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar batted through the full 60 overs for 36 not out from 174 balls, prompting several pitch invasions from unhappy Indian fans.

The final between West Indies and Australia at Lord’s Cricket Ground was full of excitements and tumbles. Clive Lloyd played a captain’s knock of 102 in 85 balls to take West Indies to an imposing 291 runs at the loss of 8 wickets. The Australian innings was marked by top order batsmen being run out while going for quick runs. Five batsmen fell in this fashion out of which three batsmen were run out by the untiring Vivian Richards. The Australians, who were led by Ian Chappel, fell short of the target by 17 runs and West Indies won the Prudential World Cup trophy.