Cricket World Cup 2007: The Caribbean hosted the inaugural 2007 ICC World Cup, which featured a brand-new format. There were 51 matches played in total. The 16 teams competing in the mega showdown were initially split into 4 groups of 4 teams each. Next, the top two teams from each group advanced to the Super 8s phase.
Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and South Africa advanced to the semifinals as a result. Then, Australia overcame Sri Lanka in the World Cup final to win their fourth World Cup overall and third in a row. The tournament’s structure, however, received harsh criticism.
This was due to the elimination of tournament favourites Pakistan and India in the first round. As a result, the bulk of the Indian subcontinent lost interest in watching the matches, and the tournament was recognised as the worst-rated and least-watched event by the ICC. It was also tainted by numerous disputes involving the organisation and the enigmatic passing of the late Bob Woolmer, a great instructor.
Here are some memorable moments from the 2007 World Cup, which was held in the West Indies.
Cricket World Cup 2007:
The 2007 World Cup had an unusual format, with 16 countries being split up into 4 groups of 4 teams each. With Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Bermuda, India was in Group B. With the West Indies, Zimbabwe, and Ireland, Pakistan was a member of Group D. This limited the room that teams had to manoeuvre if they lost a game early.
This happened to India, who suffered a humiliating loss in Trinidad against Bangladesh. India was bowled out for 191 by Bangladesh, who then won the match with five wickets remaining. In their subsequent encounter, India made a comeback by defeating Bermuda by 257 runs. But in order to advance to the Super 8, a victory vs Sri Lanka was required. India lost by 69 runs to Sri Lanka because they scored 254 runs and India was unable to match them, scoring only 185 runs. India was eliminated from the competition.
Pakistan has seen a similar event. They lost to West Indies early on, and then Ireland devastated them in the World Cup 2007 shock. Ireland successfully chased down the target with 3 wickets in hand after Pakistan was bowled out for 132. Pakistan was eliminated from the competition despite using the Duckworth Louis-Stern (DLS) technique to defeat Zimbabwe by a score of 93 runs.
Inzamam Ul Haq and Brian Lara:
Pakistan was eliminated from the competition after losing to the West Indies and Ireland in Group D. Pakistan batted first against Zimbabwe in their final group stage match, achieving 349 runs. In response, Zimbabwe used the DLS Method to lose the match by 93 runs while chasing 193 runs in 20 overs owing to rain.
Inzamam Ul Haq, the captain of Pakistan, was dismissed for 37 runs in what turned out to be his final game. He sobbed as he left the field. He received a guard of honour from the Zimbabwe team and his own Pakistan team. Additionally, Brian Lara declared that his final appearance in international cricket will be during this year’s World Cup at home.
Notably, West Indies was able to go to the Super 8s phase but was only able to win two of the seven games they played, failing to advance to the semifinals. With 269 runs in 9 matches and just one fifty, Lara himself had a quiet tournament. He signed off with a tearful farewell.
Bob Woolmer’s mysterious death:
The biggest issue surrounding the 2007 World Cup occurred on March 18, when their British coach, Bob Woolmer, who was born in India, was discovered dead. This surprise occurred the day after his team’s elimination from the competition following their loss to Ireland. The 58-year-old’s autopsy by Jamaican police was found inconclusive.
However, a second investigation the next day determined the cause of death to be “manual strangulation.” Consequently, it was seen as a murder. The Jamaican police then withdrew the assertion that he had been murdered and declared that he had passed away naturally after a thorough inquiry.
He was eventually found to have diabetes and a heart that was abnormally heavy at 520 grammes. Additionally, he had sleep apnea, which caused him to stop breathing while asleep. As a result, it became known that he once wore a mask that was connected to a device.
Sri Lanka pacer Lasith Malinga:
During Sri Lanka’s Super 8s match against South Africa in Guyana, Lasith Malinga made history. The first team to bat, Sri Lanka, scored 209 runs thanks to 50s from Tillakaratne Dilshan and Russell Arnold. Leading the South African bowling attack with a five-wicket haul of (5/39) was Charl Langeveldt.
Thanks to 59 from captain Graeme Smith and 86 from Jacques Kallis, South Africa got off to a strong start. At 206/5, South Africa was comfortably moving along until Lasith Malanga struck gold in four deliveries spaced over two overs. On the final two balls of the 45th over, he started by removing Shaun Pollock and Andrew Hall from the game.
When he resumed in the 47th over, Malinga took out Jacques Kallis to finish off his hat-trick and then added Makhaya Ntini to take four wickets in as many balls. This feat was first accomplished in international cricket with Malinga’s 4 in 4. However, all was in vain because South Africa was able to win by one wicket.
Glenn McGrath & Matthew Hayden:
After Inzamam Ul Haq, Brian Lara, and Australia’s standout pacer, Glenn McGrath, ended their stellar international cricket careers, there is yet another icon. He participated in all 11 games of the 2007 World Cup and recorded a record-breaking 26 wickets. Additionally, he concluded his 39-game World Cup career with a record 71 kills.
Additionally, in the 2003 competition against Namibia, he had a seven-wicket haul (7/15), which is considered to be his finest bowling performance. On the other hand, the slow and low pitches at the 2007 World Cup aided another Australian legend, Matthew Hayden, in having a strong performance. In 11 games, he scored 659 runs, including three centuries and one fifty.
Hayden’s strike rate during his dominant at-bat in the highlight game was a commendable 101.07. In the 2007 World Cup, he smashed 69 fours and 18 sixes because of his exquisite rhythm. His greatest performance was 158 runs against the West Indies, opponents.
Australia takes home the cup:
Australia had a World Cup dream run that started with their undefeated victory in the 2003 World Cup. The burden of maintaining that dominance was enormous, but Australia succeeded in winning the 2007 World Cup by going undefeated throughout the entire tournament. In one of the most criticised finals, which was cut to 38 overs each side, they faced Sri Lanka. Australia scored 281/4 as Adam Gilchrist smashed 149.
At Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, which lacked floodlights, Sri Lanka responded with a score of 215/8 in 36 overs. As the umpires reported that play had been delayed owing to poor lighting, Australia burst into premature celebrations, confusing the outcome of the game. However, they later changed their mind, claiming that the game had indeed been suspended.
As a result of a gentleman’s agreement between the two leaders, three overs were bowled in almost complete darkness while Sri Lanka batted out the final three overs. After winning the 1999 and 2003 tournaments, Australia won the World Cup three times in a row. In 2015, they would increase the number of medals in their cabinet. And have five World Cup victories, followed by two apiece for India and the West Indies.
So, this was all about the Cricket World Cup 2007. Also read, Dale Steyn reveals his top five fast bowlers in the 2023 ODI World Cup.
