England at World Cups – So near yet so far
Inventors of ODI cricket, England, were a dominating force in the World Cups for the first five editions but soon other teams caught up and jumped over them. Their performance in the 2015 World Cup was disastrous but the team has drastically improved since then. The nation is also playing the host after 20 years and this will be the fifth edition of the Quadrennial tournament played on the English soil. Here is how they have fared over the years.
Team record:
Played – 72, Won – 41, Lost – 29, Tied – 1, No result – 1
Notable performances:
Runner up – 1975, 1987, 1992
Semi-finals – 1979, 1983
Most runs: Graham Gooch (897 runs in 21 matches)
Most wickets: Ian Botham (30 wickets in 22 matches)
History:
Leading into the 1975 World Cup, England was the most experienced side with 15 matches while no other nation had played even half of those. As the home of ODI cricket, they decided to host the inaugural event. Dennis Amiss (137) scored the first century of the World Cup as England posted 334/6 against India in 60 overs. Incidentally, in 1972 he had also scored the first century of ODI cricket. England sailed through the group stages unblemished and set their appointment with Australia in the semis.
In the semifinal at Leeds, Australia’s left-arm seamer Gary Gilmour ran through the English side. In his maiden World Cup match, Gilmour took 6/14 and scored 28 not out to take the team home. England was all out for 93 and lost by four wickets.
Humbled by West Indies
Next edition of the World Cup was also hosted by England. Many teams were still getting used to the idea of limited-overs cricket while Test cricket remained a priority. England was once again unbeaten in the group stage and secured a place in the final by beating New Zealand in a tense semi-final. In the final at Lord’s, England held an upper hand by reducing West Indies to 99/4. However, Viv Richards (138) and Collis King added 139 runs for the fifth wicket to take WI out of trouble. England began well, but Gooch’s dismissal turned the table as the team collapsed from 183/2 to 194 all out.
Another knock-out loss
The last 60-over World Cup began in England on 9th June 1983. Once again, England found no difficulties in clearing the group stage (5 wins in 6 matches). They were favorites leading into the semifinal against India. However, the Indian bowlers made most of the English conditions and knocked England out with a six-wicket win.
The reverse-sweep that costed the cup
India winning the World Cup changed a few equations, and the 1987 tournament was played outside England for the first time. Mike Gatting’s team lost its two group matches to Pakistan and finished at second place in the group. In the semi-final, Gooch’s 115 at Wankhede Stadium helped them get into the final. At Eden Gardens, they were well on course to chase Australia’s target of 254. But it was a mistimed reverse-sweep from Gatting that dragged the side down and England lost another chance to win the World Cup.
In the final for the last time
1992 World Cup in Australia-New Zealand remains England’s last glorious performance in the tournament till date. They were dominant in the group stages once again and qualified as the second-placed team despite the shock defeat against Zimbabwe. In the semi-final, the rain rule helped them go past the South Africans. However, Pakistan got better of them in the final.
Earlier in the group stages, England has bowled Pakistan out for 74 but rain intervened and the points were shared. Those points and three consecutive wins allowed Pakistan to qualify as the fourth team. England was chasing 250 in the final at Melbourne Cricket Ground. They were rocked by Wasim Akram and other Pakistani bowlers and conceded a 22-run loss. This was their third defeat in a World Cup final.
The downfall
England’s performances went downhill after the final of 1992 World Cup. In the 1996 World Cup quarterfinal, they were blasted by Sanath Jayasuriya’s 44-ball 82. In the home World Cup of 1999, England finished at fourth place behind Zimbabwe and was ousted at the group stage. The same fate awaited them four years later in South Africa.
In the 2007 World Cup, England did clear the group stage hurdle but remained unimpressive in the Super Eight and could not progress further. In 2011 edition, they were blown away by Sri Lanka in the quarterfinal as the Sri Lankan opening pair chased down England’s total of 230 runs. The English side was defeated by Ireland and Bangladesh in this World Cup.
England reached its nadir in the 2015 World Cup. Their wins came against Scotland and Afghanistan while they were defeated by Bangladesh, New Zealand, Australia and Sri Lanka. This was another group-stage exit for England and their most embarrassing campaign. This caused the team to rethink their ODI cricket and now they head into the 2019 World Cup as favorites.
