2007 World Cup Recap – Revisiting unforgettable moments

India ODI World Cup 2007 jersey (Photo Source: Twitter)

The 2007 ICC World Cup was held for the first time in the Caribbean and it had a very new format. There were a total of 51 matches played. A total of 16 teams were competing in the mega showdown and were divided into 4 groups of 4 teams each initially.  The two top teams from each group then further qualified for the Super 8s round. 

From this, Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and South Africa went ahead through to the semi-finals. Australia then defeated Sri Lanka in the final to win their third consecutive World Cup and fourth overall. However, the format of the tournament was heavily criticized. 

This was because the tournament favourites India and Pakistan were eliminated in the first round itself. This resulted in the tournament being deemed as the worst-rated and least-watched event by ICC as the majority of the Indian subcontinent lost interest in watching the matches. It was also marred by many controversies regarding the organization and the mysterious death of the legendary coach, the late Bob Woolmer. 

Let’s recap the 2007 World Cup which was played in the West Indies and here are some unforgettable memories.

Revisiting unforgettable moments from the 2007 World Cup:

6. Bangladesh shocked India and Pakistan lost to Ireland in a big upset 

Indian-Team 2007 World Cup Jersey. (Photo Source: Twitter)

The format of the 2007 World Cup was a unique one as 16 teams were divided into 4 groups of four teams each. India were in Group B with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Bermuda. Pakistan were in Group D with West Indies, Zimbabwe, and Ireland.

This didn’t give teams much space to wiggle if they lost a match early.

This happened to India, who lost to Bangladesh in a shocking defeat in Trinidad. Bangladesh bowled India out for 191 and then chased it down with 5 wickets in hand. India made a comeback by defeating Bermuda by 257 runs in their next match. But needed to win against Sri Lanka to qualify for the Super 8s.

Unfortunately for India, Sri Lanka proved to be too good as they posted 254 runs and India couldn’t chase them, making only 185 and losing by 69 runs. This knocked India out of the tournament.

Something similar happened to Pakistan as well. They began with a loss to West Indies and then in the upset of the World Cup 2007, were decimated by Ireland. Pakistan was bowled out for 132 and Ireland chased the target with 3 wickets in hand. Though Pakistan won their final match against Zimbabwe by 93 runs via the Duckworth  Louis-Stern (DLS method), they were knocked out of the tournament.  

5. Legends Inzamam Ul Haq and Brian Lara bid adieu to international cricket

Brian Lara and Inzamam-ul-Haq. Photo Source- AFP

Pakistan’s defeat at the hands of West Indies and Ireland in Group D meant that they had been knocked out of the tournament. Their final match of the group stage was against Zimbabwe and Pakistan batted first, scoring 349 runs. In response, Zimbabwe made 99 runs chasing 193 in 20 overs due to rain and lost the game by 93 runs via the DLS Method. 

This match proved to be the final one of the Pakistan captain Inzamam Ul Haq’s career and when he got out for 37 runs, he left the field in tears. Zimbabwe team and his own Pakistan team gave him the guard of honour.

Brian Lara had also announced that this World Cup at home would be his final outing in international cricket.

Notably, West Indies managed to qualify for the Super 8s round but managed to win only 2 games out of 7 they played and couldn’t qualify for the semi-finals. Lara himself had a quiet tournament with 269 runs in 9 matches with just one fifty and he signed off in an emotional goodbye.

4. Legendary coach Bob Woolmer’s mysterious death

Bob Woolmer

The biggest controversy of the 2007 World Cup came when their India-born British coach, Bob Woolmer, was found dead on March 18. This shock came one day after his team’s defeat to Ireland put them out of the tournament. Jamaican police performed an autopsy on the 58-year-old which was deemed inconclusive.

But the next day, further investigation revealed the cause of death was “manual strangulation.” Hence, it was considered a murder.

After a lengthy investigation, the Jamaican police rescinded the comments that he was murdered and confirmed that he died from natural causes.

It was later discovered that he was diagnosed with diabetes and his heart weighed an abnormally heavy 520 grams. Moreover, he also suffered from sleep apnea, which meant he would stop breathing in his sleep. Therefore, it was revealed that he used to wear a mask attached to a machine.

3. Sri Lanka pacer Lasith Malinga takes 4 wickets in 4 consecutive balls

Lasith Malinga

Lasith Malinga created history during Sri Lanka’s Super 8s match against South Africa in Guyana. Sri Lanka batted first and thanks to fifties from Tillakaratne Dilshan and Russell Arnold, posted 209 runs on the board. Charl Langeveldt led the South African bowling attack as he took (5/39) a five-wicket haul. 

South Africa got off to a good start thanks to 59 from skipper Graeme Smith and 86 by Jacques Kallis. South Africa were cruising along at 206/5 when Lasith Malanga produced magic in four deliveries spread across two overs. He began by dismissing Shaun Pollock and Andrew Hall on the last two balls of the 45th over.

Resuming his spell in the 47th over, Malinga cleaned up Jacques Kallis to complete his hat-trick and then added another one in the form of Makhaya Ntini to pick four wickets in four balls.

Malinga’s 4 in 4 was the first instance of this achievement in international cricket. But it went in vain as South Africa managed to win the match by one wicket. 

2. Glenn McGrath ends his career on a high; Matthew Hayden tops run charts

Glenn McGrath and Matthew Hayden of Australia

Another legend after Inzamam Ul Haq and Brian Lara along with the Australia star pacer, Glenn McGrath, called time on their illustrious international cricket career. He played in all 11 games in the World Cup 2007 and picked 26 wickets, a record at that time. Moreover, he also finished his World Cup career with a record 71 scalps in 39 matches.

Besides, his best bowling came in the form of a seven-wicket haul (7/15), which came against Namibia in the 2003 edition.

On the other hand, another Australian legend, Matthew Hayden, had a bang in the 2007 World Cup, as the slow and low pitches helped his dominating style of batting. He made 659 runs in 11 matches with three centuries and one fifty to his name.

During his dominating batting performance in the marquee event, Hayden’s strike rate was an impressive 101.07. His rhythm was so sublime that he ended up hitting 18 sixes and 69 fours in the World Cup in 2007. His best score was 158 runs, which came against hosts West Indies. 

1. Australia complete hat-trick of World Cup wins in dominating performance

Australia

For Australia, it was a dream run in the World Cup which began in the 2003 World Cup, when they won the competition unbeaten. They had a huge task to continue that domination and without failing, Australia remained unbeaten in the entire 2007 World Cup and went on to win the crown. They met Sri Lanka in one of the most criticised final which was shortened to 38 overs per side. Adam Gilchrist slammed 149, as Australia posted 281/4.

In reply, Sri Lanka managed 215/8 in 36 overs, when bad light stopped play at Kensington Oval, in Bridgetown, Barbados, which didn’t have floodlights.

The ending of the match was marred in confusion, as Australia erupted in premature celebrations as umpires announced play was suspended due to bad light. But later they took back their decision saying that the game was suspended, not completed.

Three overs were bowled in near darkness as Sri Lanka batted out the remaining 3 overs following a gentleman’s agreement between the two captains.

Australia won their third World Cup in running after the 1999 and 2003 championships. They would add another trophy to their cabinet in 2015. And are the team with the most World Cup wins with 5, followed by India and West Indies with two wins each.