For the first time ever, the Caribbean hosted the 2007 ICC World Cup, which featured a brand-new format. 51 different matches were played in all. There were four groups of four teams each, for a total of 16 teams fighting in the mega showdown. In order to advance to the Super 8s phase, the top two teams from each group had to qualify again.
From there, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Australia, and New Zealand advanced to the semifinals. Then, Australia overcame Sri Lanka in the World Cup final to capture their third straight title and fourth overall. However, the tournament’s structure received harsh criticism.
This was due to the elimination in the first round of the tournament favorites, Pakistan and India. As a result, the bulk of the Indian subcontinent lost interest in watching the matches, and the ICC determined that the tournament had the lowest ratings and least viewers of any event. Additionally, it was tainted by numerous organizational disputes and the tragic loss of the late Bob Woolmer, a famous coach.
In case you missed it, here are some outstanding moments from the 2007 World Cup, which was held in the West Indies.
Considering the 2007 World Cup’s most memorable moments:
1. Bangladesh shocked India and Pakistan lost to Ireland in a big upset
16 teams were split up into 4 groups of four teams each for the 2007 World Cup, which had a unique format. Along with Bangladesh, Bermuda, and Sri Lanka, India was in Group B. With Ireland, Zimbabwe, and the West Indies, Pakistan was a member of Group D. Teams were not given much room to maneuver if they lost a game early.
This happened to India, which suffered an unexpected loss to Bangladesh in Trinidad. In the chase, Bangladesh had five wickets in hand after bowling India out for 191. India recovered by defeating Bermuda by 257 runs in their subsequent game. But to go into the Super 8, they have to defeat Sri Lanka. Sadly for India, Sri Lanka proved to be too good as they scored 254 runs and India was unable to match them, scoring only 185 runs and lost by a score of 69 runs. India was eliminated from the contest as a result.
Pakistan experienced a similar situation. They lost to West Indies in the opening match before being completely destroyed by Ireland in the World Cup 2007 upset. With three wickets in hand, Ireland chased down the score after Pakistan was bowled out for 132. Despite using the Duckworth Louis-Stern (DLS) technique to defeat Zimbabwe by a score of 93 runs in their final match, Pakistan was eliminated from the competition.
2. Legends Inzamam Ul Haq and Brian Lara bid adieu to international cricket
Pakistan was eliminated from the competition after their losses in Group D to the West Indies and Ireland. Pakistan batted first in their last group stage match against Zimbabwe, achieving 349 runs. In response, Zimbabwe lost the match by 93 runs using the DLS Method while chasing 193 runs in 20 overs owing to rain.
The Pakistani skipper Inzamam Ul Haq departed the field in tears after being dismissed for 37 runs in what turned out to be his final match. The guard of honor was provided by the Zimbabwe team and his own Pakistani team. Brian Lara has said that he would play his final match in international cricket during this year’s World Cup at home.
Notably, West Indies managed to go to the Super 8s phase, but they only won two of the seven games they played, preventing them from reaching the semifinals. With 269 runs in 9 matches and just one fifty, Lara had a quiet tournament. He concluded with an emotional good-bye.
3. Legendary coach Bob Woolmer’s mysterious death
When their British coach, Bob Woolmer, who was born in India, was discovered dead on March 18, it caused the largest scandal of the 2007 World Cup. One day before to this surprise, his team’s elimination from the tournament following a loss to Ireland. The 58-year-old’s autopsy was conducted by Jamaican police, but the results were declared inconclusive.
However, a second investigation the next day determined that the cause of death was “manual strangulation.” As a result, it was viewed as a murder. After a thorough investigation, the Jamaican police retracted their claims that he had been killed and declared that he had passed away naturally.
He was eventually found to have diabetes and have an abnormally large heart, weighing 520 kilos. He also had sleep apnea, which caused him to cease breathing while he was asleep. It was therefore made known that he had previously worn a mask that was connected to a device.
4. Sri Lanka pacer Lasith Malinga takes 4 wickets in 4 consecutive balls
In Guyana’s Super 8s match between Sri Lanka and South Africa, Lasith Malinga made history. Tillakaratne Dilshan and Russell Arnold both scored 50 runs while Sri Lanka batted first, scoring a total of 209 runs. With a five-wicket haul of 5/39, Charl Langeveldt topped the South African bowling assault.
Graeme Smith’s 59 and Jacques Kallis’ 86 helped South Africa get off to a strong start. When Lasith Malanga struck gold in four deliveries over the course of two overs, South Africa was riding along at 206/5. On the final two balls of the 45th over, he started by outing Andrew Hall and Shaun Pollock.
When Malinga resumed his spell in the 47th over, he took out Jacques Kallis to finish up his hat-trick and then added another wicket in the form of Makhaya Ntini to take four in as many balls. The first time this feat occurred in international cricket was with Malinga’s 4 in 4. But all was in vain because South Africa won the game by one wicket.
5. Glenn McGrath ends his career on a high; Matthew Hayden tops run charts
Another icon has retired from international cricket following the likes of Inzamam Ul Haq, Brian Lara, and Australia’s star pacer, Glenn McGrath. In the World Cup of 2007, he participated in all 11 games and recorded a record-breaking 26 wickets. Additionally, he ended his World Cup career with a record 71 kills in 39 games.
He also had a seven-wicket haul (7/15), which was his highest bowling performance, against Namibia in the 2003 tournament. On the other hand, a different Australian legend, Matthew Hayden, had a great World Cup in 2007, as the slow and low pitches complimented his stout batting approach. With three century and one fifty, he scored 659 runs in 11 games.
Hayden’s outstanding 101.07 strike rate during his dominant batting effort in the main event. His rhythm was so flawless that, during the 2007 World Cup, he struck 69 fours and 18 sixes. His highest total, 158 runs, was recorded against the West Indies, the opponents.
6. Australia complete hat-trick of World Cup wins in dominating performance
In the World Cup, Australia had a fantasy run that started with their unblemished victory in the 2003 edition. They faced a formidable challenge in maintaining their dominance, but Australia succeeded in doing so by going undefeated throughout the whole 2007 World Cup and winning the tournament. They competed against Sri Lanka in one of the most criticized championship games, which was cut to 38 overs each side. Australia scored 281/4 after Adam Gilchrist’s 149-yard slam.
When play at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, which lacked floodlights, was suspended due to poor lighting, Sri Lanka managed 215/8 in 36 overs. The game’s conclusion was marred by uncertainty as Australia celebrated too soon after the umpires announced play had been paused due to poor lighting. Later, though, they reversed course and claimed that the game had actually been suspended.
Following a gentleman’s agreement between the two leaders, Sri Lanka batted out the final three overs while three overs were bowled in nearly complete darkness. After the 1999 and 2003 tournaments, Australia won their third World Cup in a row. In 2015, they would expand their collection of trophies. And have five victories in the World Cup, followed by two victories apiece for India and the West Indies.
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