World Cup Game-changers: The inaugural ODI World Cup was slated to be played in England. A total of 8 teams competed for the big prize. Teams were divided into two groups of four each. England was ranked one and was also the home team. They were part of Group A.
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The World Cup seedings:
World Cup Game-changers:West Indies ranked two top-lined Group B. Australia and New Zealand were ranked 3 and 4 respectively. India and Pakistan came in at 5 and 6 while Sri Lanka and East Africa being associate nations filled up the last two spots.
The World Cup was here to stay:
In what was still an unknown quantity not many knew how would the tournament play out. The tournament ignited passion among cricket lovers across the world. They came to enjoy the format knowing every four years there would be a world champion. The success of the 1975 tournament meant that the World Cup is here to stay. Many stars broke out in the first edition itself.
We look at game changers of the 1975 World Cup:
#1 Glenn Turner
He was the standout batsman of the World Cup. Glenn Turner was the leading run-scorer in the tournament with 333 runs. He played 4 matches and averaged an outstanding 166.50. Turner scored two compelling centuries with the highest score of 171* against East Africa. He could have added more to his kitty had the Kiwis made the final but Turner nonetheless showed his potential on the world stage.
#2 Gary Gilmour
He had a terrific World Cup with numbers that still stand the test of time. Gary Gilmour played just a couple of games in the World Cup. His numbers though give an impression that he played a lot more. He returned with the best figures in the tournament which incidentally came in the semifinal against England. His 6-14 reduced the home side to 93 all out. Gilmour picked up a fiver in the final too thereby finishing with 11 wickets at a brilliant average of 5.63. He picked up a wicket every 13 balls in the two games.
#3 Clive Lloyd
The West Indian is regarded as one of the finest captains to have ever led a cricket team. Clive Lloyd’s legacy apart from his successful stint as Test skipper remains in the fact that he led the Windies side to two successive World Cup titles. He was the eighth-highest run-getter in the tournament. His most vital contribution though came in the grand final. Lloyd hit a superb hundred (102 off 85 balls) which proved to be the difference between the two sides.
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