1996 World Cup Game-Changer:It was the sixth edition of the ODI World Cup. The tournament was back as usual after a four-year gap. A lot of water had flown under the bridge since the past edition of the tournament. The legendary all-rounders who dominated the 80s had retired. A select few greats were slated to play their last World Cup edition. It was for the first time that Sri Lanka would also be hosting games in a World Cup. They were the third co-hosts along with Pakistan and India.
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A tournament marred with controversies:
There was political tension in Sri Lanka during those times. The Sri Lankan cricket board though offered maximum security to all the visiting teams. ICC too was happy with all the safety arrangements. But the cricket boards of Australia and West Indies refused to send their sides to Sri Lanka. The ICC declared that these forfeited games will be awarded to Lanka. With two wins already Lanka had booked a berth in the quarterfinal without playing a game!
The changed structure of the tournament:
It was the first World Cup to have a total of 12 teams. Apart from the ones who featured in the 1992 World Cup, the new entrants comprised Kenya, UAE, and Netherlands. Teams were divided into two groups of six each. It was the first time where there were a total of 7 knockout games as compared to the usual three. The top four teams from each group qualified for the quarterfinals. Sri Lanka went on to win the tournament comfortably. The World Cup had a new winner for the fourth successive edition!
A World Cup of solid performances:
There were many standout players throughout the tournament. Mark Waugh created a World Cup record when he smashed two consecutive World Cup centuries. Bowlers from the subcontinent led the wicket-taking charts. Waqar Younis with 13 scalps was number 2 on the wicket-takers list while Anil Kumble with 15 wickets topped the bowling charts.
The batters had a great run:
Sachin Tendulkar broke the 500-run milestone in this World Cup. He was the highest run-getter of the 1996 World Cup with 523 runs in 7 games. Tendulkar smashed 2 centuries and 3 half-centuries at an average of 87.16 and a strike rate of 85.87. His fierce competitor, Brian Lara had a great World Cup too. He scored half the number of runs that Sachin did but his impact for the team was the same. Lara’s strike rate of 105.07 was second among the top-ten run-scorers of this edition.
The true game changers of the 1996 World Cup:
There was little doubt that the two forfeited games immensely helped Sri Lanka. But in all fairness, it was the collective coming together of individual performers that laid the stage for the big win. Arjuna Ranatunga the captain had immense belief in every member of the squad. He knew who were the players who could win him games on the big stage. The two most talented mavericks of that bunch brought out their best to help Lanka lift their maiden World Cup title.
‘Mad Max’ – Aravinda de Silva
He was the third-highest run-getter of the 1996 World Cup. Aravinda de Silva was arguably the biggest match-winning batsman from Asia during that period. He channelized his inner beast, especially in the two big games. Sri Lanka was 1-2 in the first over of the semifinal but Aravinda counterattacked brilliantly.
His 66 off 47 balls on a treacherous pitch helped Lanka post 251-8. He later picked up the wicket of Nayan Mongia to win the Player of the Match award. Aravinda went one better in the finals when he picked up a 3-wicket haul and also hit an unbeaten century to take Sri Lanka to glory. It remains one of the finest all-round performances in the history of the game.
The Matara Mauler – Sanath Jayasuriya
What Martin Crowe did in 1992 Ranatunga did better in 1996. He paired up the hard-hitting Romesh Kaluwitharana and the maverick genius Sanath Jayasuriya at the top. The openers went berserk in the first 15 overs notching up scores of 117, 123, 121, and 86. It was his blitz at the top that helped Lanka surprise the opposition no matter what the situation of the game.
Jayasuriya also picked up a crucial 3-wicket haul in the semi-finals against India. It was his all-round impact during the World Cup that earned him the Player of the Tournament award.
