The ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 is here and it is going to be one of the most competitive and exciting World Cups to watch.
The 12th edition of World Cup will be held in England & Wales starting from 30th May with the home side England taking on South Africa.
The English tracks have been flat with not much assistance to the bowlers in recent times. The 350+ totals haven't been a rare sight lately. The chasing teams have also done remarkably well.
Cricket World Cup 2019 is expected to be a run-fest.
Former legendary Indian player Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for most runs in the history of Cricket World Cup 2019 with 2278 runs. No one is near him from the current crop of batsmen who will feature in 2019 World Cup. Chris Gayle is on 22nd spot with 944 runs and this might very well be his last ever World Cup.
Let's now look at the highest run scorers in each edition of Cricket World Cup.
READ | Bangladesh loss in 2007 was the toughest to digest, says Sam Jeberson
1975 World Cup - Glenn Turner (New Zealand)
New Zealand's Glenn Turner top scored in the first ever World Cup held in 1975. He scored 333 runs in 4 matches with a staggering average of 166.50.
The Kiwi batsman scored two centuries. Only 8 teams participated in the first-ever Cricket World Cup and a total of 15 matches were played. New Zealand faced West Indies in the semi-finals and West Indies made their entry to the finals and subsequently winning the first 1975 World Cup.
1979 World Cup - Gordon Greenidge (West Indies)
The second edition of World Cup was held in 1979 and the format remained unchanged. West Indies' Gordon Greenidge was the highest run-scorer in 1979 Prudential World Cup. The former West Indies batsman scored 253 runs in the tournament.
West Indies lifted the World Cup trophy again making it two out of two.
READ | Empty number 4 position a chink in Indian armour, says Vishal George
1983 World Cup - David Gower (England)
England's David Gower was the highest run-scorer in the third edition of World Cup. David Gower scored 384 runs in 7 matches. He hit one century and one half-century in the tournament.
England bowed out of the tournament against India in semi-finals. West Indies' Viv Richards wasn't far behind David Gower with 367 runs.
1987 World Cup - Graham Gooch (England)
The 4th edition of the Cricket World Cup was the first World Cup to be held outside England. 1987 ICC World Cup was played in India & Pakistan.
England's Graham Gooch scored the most runs in 1987 ICC World Cup. He amassed 471 runs in 8 matches. Gooch scored one hundred & three fifties. He helped England reach the finals of the tournament. England lost to Australia by 7 runs in the 1987 World Cup final.
READ | Head says England, heart says India favourite to win, says Srishti Rathi
1992 World Cup - Martin Crowe (New Zealand)
1992 World Cup was held in Australia & New Zealand. The Kiwis made it to the semis when they crashed out of the eventual champions Pakistan. New Zealand's captain Martin Crowe was the highest run-scorer in 1992 World Cup.
Martin Crowe scored 456 runs in the tournament. Crowe had a wonderful campaign with one century & four fifties in his bag.
1996 ICC World Cup - Sachin Tendulkar (India)
The 1996 World Cup was hosted by three countries - Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka. The sixth edition of the World Cup witnessed the real emergence of a little master from the land of India who would dominate the cricketing circuit for the next decade and a half.
Sachin Tendulkar finished the tournament as the highest run-scorer with 523 runs. He scored two centuries and three fifties in 7 matches. Sri Lanka defeated India in the first semi-final at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
The stage was set for India to bring the World Cup trophy home, however, Mohammad Azharuddin's men capitulated when it mattered the most.
READ | Mithran Thiruvengadam picks Virat Kohli as captain for his World Cup XI
1999 ICC World Cup - Rahul Dravid (India)
The 1999 World Cup was the 7th edition of the tournament. It was hosted primarily by England, with some games being played in Scotland, Ireland, Wales and the Netherlands.
Indian supporters had very little to cheer about in the 1999 World Cup, however, Rahul Dravid amassed 461 runs in 8 matches and finished as the tournament's top-scorer.
Australia lifted the World Cup trophy for the second time as they defeated Pakistan comprehensively at London.
2003 ICC World Cup - Sachin Tendulkar (India)
Another World Cup, another Indian tournament's top-scorer. 2003 ICC World Cup was a memorable one for India and especially Sachin Tendulkar. The little master was on the peak of his power and destroyed every bowling attack.
Sachin Tendulkar finished as tournament's top-scorer with 673 runs in 11 matches. Who can forget Sachin Tendulkar's special 98 off 75 balls against Pakistan in an exciting World Cup encounter. Tendulkar dazzled bowlers with an array of shots like no one else.
It seemed like it was written in the stars for India. They faced Australia in the finals. The celebrations were cut short by a star-studded Australian side when they went on to win the 2003 ICC World Cup final by a massive 125 runs. This was a consecutive World Cup trophy.
READ | Favourite World Cup memory: that nail-biting Aus vs SA semifinal of 1999
2007 ICC World Cup - Matthew Hayden (Australia)
2007 ICC World Cup was held in the West Indies. A total of 51 matches were played in the 9th edition of the World Cup. Australia's Matthew Hayden finished as tournament's top-scorer with 659 runs in 11 matches. The left-handed destroyer made three centuries and one fifty in 2007 ICC World Cup with a staggering strike-rate of 101.07.
The 9th edition of the World Cup was a show of domination by the Baggy Green. Ricky Ponting's men defeated Sri Lanka in the finals to lift the trophy for the third time in a row and fourth time overall.
2011 World Cup - Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka)
The 10th edition of the World Cup was held in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. A total of 49 matches were played by 14 participants. 2011 ICC World Cup is the most viewed World Cup edition ever with 2.2 billion worldwide viewers.
Sri Lankan player Tillakaratne Dilshan finished the tournament as the highest run-scorer in 2011 World Cup. He finished with 500 runs in 9 matches. India lifted the World Cup trophy after 28 years as they went on to defeat Sri Lanka by 6 wickets.
This was Sachin Tendulkar's last-ever World Cup. He made 482 runs finishing just behind Tillkaratne Dilshan.
2015 ICC World Cup - Martin Guptill (New Zealand)
This was the 11th edition of World Cup held in Australia & New Zealand. Fourteen teams played 49 matches with Australia staging 26 games and New Zealand staging 23 games.
The host nations (Australia & New Zealand) reached the finals of 2015 ICC World Cup. Australia defeated New Zealand by 7 wickets and were crowned champions for 5th time.
New Zealand's Martin Guptill was the highest run-scorer in the tournament with 547 runs.
Gourav is a writer and cricket enthusiast based in Gurgaon, India.
Readers may send in their articles to sportstar@thehindu.co.in
Comments
SHARE