A captain’s job is not just to make decisions on the field but also lead from the front with inspiring performances. There’s no comparison to the pressure that one faces during the World Cup, and true characters are tested when against all the odds, the leader leads the team to glory. What better than bludgeoning your way to a hundred when the chips are down.
Like the previous 10 editions, the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 has also seen some exemplary batting displays by leaders. Suvajit Mustafi lists 15 memorable hundreds scored by a captain in World Cup. The list in chronological order.
1: Glenn Turner: 171 (201 balls)* vs East Africa at Birmingham in 1975 World Cup, Group Stage
Over the years New Zealand have produced several brilliant batsmen but talking of sheer impact, the name that pops up first in the mind has to be Glenn Turner. The World Cup was a new introduction to the game and the one-day format was in its very early days.
Turner set the tournament alight in the very second game as he smashed his way to an unbeaten 171 against the minnows East Africa. It was then the highest score in One-Day International (ODI). Winning the toss and batting first, the New Zealand skipper opening the innings played some glorious drives throughout his stay at the crease, as he carried his bat all the way through 60 overs. His innings contained 16 fours and two sixes.
Turner later scored another hundred in the tournament and the Kiwis relied so much on their captain that when he failed in the semi-final against West Indies, New Zealand lost poorly.
Brief scores: New Zealand 309 for 6 in 60 overs (Glenn Turner 171 not out, John Parker 66) bt East Africa 128 for 8 in 60 overs (F Ali 45, Dale Hadlee 3-21; Hedley Howrath 3-29) —by 181 runs
2: Clive Lloyd: 102 (85 balls)* vs Australia at Lord’s in 1975 World Cup final
Ian Chappell’s move to send West Indies in to bat almost paid off when he had the Caribbean team struggling for 50 for three. The first ever World Cup final was a contest between two of the strongest sides in the competition and something special was required to counter the spirited Australians. In a display of brute counter-attack, West Indian captain Clive Lloyd played a blinder.
Lloyd smacked one to the cover to complete his hundred off just 82 balls — a huge achievement back then. He added 149 for the fourth wicket with Rohan Kanhai. His knock came under immense pressure and was a brilliant mix of brute and class. Lloyd’s knock contained 12 fours and two sixes against a bowling attack that boasted Dennis Lillee, Gary Gilmour and Jeff Thomson. Had Lloyd not shined, West Indies could have been bowled out cheaply way before their quota of 60 overs.
While Lloyd built the platform, a spirited show by the tail helped West Indies reach 291 as they went on to win the final by 17 runs to be crowned the first ever World Champions.
Brief scores: West Indies 291 for 6 in 60 overs (R Kanhai 55, C Lloyd 102, Keith Boyce 34; Gary Gilmour 5-48) bt Australia 274 (Allan Turner 40, Ian Chappell 62, Doug Walters 35; Keith Boyce 4-50) — by 17 runs
3: Imran Khan: 102 (133 balls)* vs Sri Lanka at Leeds in 1983 World Cup, Group Stage
Pakistan were struggling at 63 for five and were staring a defeat when their skipper Imran Khan bailed them out. In an innings of grit and determination, the Pakistani captain hung in and played it through. He added 144-runs for the sixth wicket with all-rounder Shahid Mahboob.
Imran remained unbeaten on 102 in an innings that contained 11 boundaries. His efforts guided Pakistan to a respectable score of 235. Later leg-spinner Abdul Qadir picked up a fifer as they beat Sri Lanka by 11 runs.
Brief scores: Pakistan 235 for 7 in 60 overs (Imran Khan 102 not out, Shahid Mahboob 77; Asanta de Mel 5-39) bt Sri Lanka 224 in 58.3 overs (Sidath Wettimuny 50, Roy Dias 47; Abdul Qadir 5-44) — by 11 runs
4: Kapil Dev: 175 (138 balls)* vs Zimbabwe at Tunbridge Wells in 1983 World Cup, Group Stage
It’s a shame that one of the greatest innings in the game wasn’t televised. Zimbabwe were minnows but they weren’t a weak side and earlier in the tournament they had shown their prowess when they beat Australia.
Another upset was just round the corner as the African side had now reduced to India to 17 for five and back in pavilion were the top five Indian batsmen. On a lively wicket, Indian captain Kapil Dev launched an incredible counter-attack in deep crisis. He added 60 with Roger Binny, 62 with Madan Lal, before adding an unbeaten 126 for the ninth wicket with Syed Kirmani. While the other batsmen played the supporting hand, keeping wickets intact, Kapil bludgeoned his way to an unbeaten 175 off just 138 balls, in an innings where he belted 16 fours and six sixes.
India finished with 266. Though his strike-rate read 126.81, Kapil’s was a calculated and controlled knock. Curran, who had picked up three wickets, was desperate to out shadow Kapil’s heroics and looked set to win it for his team with the bat but the spirited India didn’t let their captain’s efforts go down the drain. India managed to win the closely fought contest by 31 runs and a week later, the World Cup.
Brief scores: India 266 for 8 in 60 overs (Kapil Dev 175 not out; Peter Rawson 3-47, Kevin Curran 3-65) bt Zimbabwe 235 in 57 overs (Kevin Curran 73; Madan Lal 3-42) — by 31 runs
5: Viv Richards: 181 (125 balls) vs Sri Lanka at Karachi in 1987 World Cup, Group Stage
It was savagery at its best. West Indian skipper Viv Richards was angry as his side had lost the first game to England and someone had to bear the brunt of his fury. Unfortunately, on this occasion the victim was the poor Sri Lankan side. Coming in at 45 for two, Richards scored his 50 off 62 balls but thereafter the ball kept flying to all parts. He scored his tenth ODI hundred off 97 balls and brought up his next 81 from just 33.
He added 122 for the third wicket with opener Desmond Haynes and later added 116 with Gus Logie. Richards had almost surpassed his own set highest ODI score of 189, but he fell for 181 from 125 balls, an innings that contained 16 fours and seven sixes.
West Indies put up a mammoth 360 from their 50 overs, the highest ODI total at that point of time and eventually won by a huge margin of 191 runs.
Brief scores: West Indies 360 for 4 in 50 overs (Desmond Haynes 105, Viv Richards 181) bt Sri Lanka 169 for 5 in 50 overs (Arjuna Ranatunga 52 not out) — by 191 runs
6: Martin Crowe: 100 (134 balls)* vs Australia at Auckland in 1992 World Cup, Opening match
It was the opening day of the World Cup and the joint hosts and fierce sports rivals clashed in Auckland. New Zealand skipper Martin Crowe set the tone for the Kiwis from the opening game itself.
It was a slow wicket at Eden Park and facing the defending champions was not an easy task. Opener John Wright was cleaned-up in the very first ball of the match (and the tournament) and the Kiwis further stuttered at 13 for two when Crowe arrived. In what was a difficult pitch, where the ball kept slow and low, Crowe exhibited superb skills and crafted a fine unbeaten hundred as New Zealand posted a strong total of 248 in 50 overs, a score the Australian fell short by 37 runs.
Riding on inspiring displays by Crowe, New Zealand continued their memorable run throughout the World Cup till Pakistan brought a halt to their ambitions in the semi-final.
Brief scores: New Zealand 248 for 6 in 50 overs (Martin Crowe 100 not out, Ken Rutherford 57) bt Australia 211 in 48.1 overs (David Boon 100, Steve Waugh 38; Gavin Larsen 3-30) — by 37 runs
7: Steve Waugh: 120 (110 balls )* vs South Africa at Leeds in 1999 World Cup, Super Six
Australia had their ups and downs in the tournament, but a win in this game would have meant that clinching a semi-final berth. South Africa powered their way to 271 and at 48 for three in the 12th over, things didn’t look too bright for Australia. Their skipper Steve Waugh walked out at that score and batting with him was a struggling Ricky Ponting. They were up against an attack that boasted the names — Shaun Pollock, Allan Donald, Steve Elworthy and Lance Klusener. Gritty as always, Waugh fought it out. In midst of an inspiring innings, the Australian skipper also guided Ponting with his batting as they put on 126 for the fourth wicket.
With the score on 152 and Waugh at 56, he flicked a Lance Klusener delivery to midwicket where Herschelle Gibbs, who had scored a hundred for South Africa earlier, took the catch but in anxiety to celebrate, he dropped it. Waugh famously told him, “I hope you realise that you’ve just lost the game for your team”.
And Waugh kept his word and stroked his way to an unbeaten 120, and winning it for Australia with two balls to spare. The sides again met in semi-final which ended in a tie and thanks to this win, Australia proceeded to final, which they won and lifted the coveted cup for the second time.
Brief scores: Australia 272 for 5 in 49.4 overs (Ricky Ponting 69, Steve Waugh 120 not out) bt South Africa 271 for 7 in 50 overs (Herschelle Gibbs 101, Darryl Cullinan 50, Jonty Rhodes 39, Lance Klusener 36; Damien Fleming 3-57) — by five wickets
8: Stephen Fleming: 134 (132 balls)* vs South Africa at Johannesburg in 2003 World Cup, Group Stage
It was a must-win match for New Zealand and going in a match of this importance, South Africa must have been the last opponent on their mind. New Zealand had just won once in their previous 18 encounters and their skipper Stephen Fleming form wasn’t helping the side either.
To make things worse, riding on Gibbs’ 143, South Africa put up 306. Rain interruptions led to revised targets and Fleming opening the innings went on to play the best knock of his career. He was in a different zone as he timed everything to perfection and the bowler’s reputation didn’t matter at all. The deliveries on the on-side were dealt severely with clips through mid-wicket and on off there were booming drives and heaves over point.
The South African bowling attack, which had the likes of Pollock, Donald, Mahkaya Ntini, Jacques Kallis and Klusener, was deposited all around the Wanderers, as Fleming played the best knock of the World Cup and led his side to one of their most memorable wins.
Brief scores: New Zealand 229 for 1 in 36.5 (overs) (D/L method Revised) (Stephen Fleming 134 not out, Nathan Astle 54 not out) bt South Africa 306 for 6 in 50 overs (Herschelle Gibbs 143, Lance Klusener 33 not out) — by nine wickets
9: Sourav Ganguly: 107 (120 balls)* vs Kenya at Cape Town in 2003 World Cup, Super Six
Kenya weren’t in the tournament to just fill up the numbers and their inspired show saw them qualify to the Super Six stage and were now up against India, who were playing very well. Having beaten India twice previously, the African team which had already pulled off some upsets in the tournament fancied their chances.
India chasing 226 were reduced to 24 for three with Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar and Mohammed Kaif back in the pavilion. Kenyans bowled a disciplined line but the Indian captain Sourav Ganguly stuck in there. Under pressure, Ganguly played a measured and composed knock which contained 11 fours and two sixes, to see India through. Ganguly continued his good form in the semi-final too against the same opponent and notched up another hundred. India’s winning run came to a halt in the final.
Brief scores: Kenya 225 for 6 in 50 overs (Kennedy Otieno 79) lost to India 226 for 4 in 47.5 overs (Sourav Ganguly 107 not out, Yuvraj Singh 58 not out) — by six wickets
10: Ricky Ponting: 140 (121 balls)* vs India at Johannesburg in 2003 World Cup final
In a brutal display of batting, Australian captain Ricky Ponting ensured that the final was a no contest. His belligerent knock ensured that Australia won the World Cup for the second time in a row and their third overall.
Australia were benefitted from a powerful start by Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist, and Ponting was helped by Damien Martyn’s fluent knock at the other end. Ponting was a bit slow to start with and brought up his fifty of 74 balls. Post that began a memorable carnage as the Australian captain ended with an unbeaten 140 from just 121 balls taking the team score to 359 in their 50 overs. He hit only four fours but clubbed eight sixes in his innings.
With that sort of a score in the board, India really had no chance against a bowling line-up that boasted of Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, Andy Bichel and Brad Hogg. For one more time, the cup was Australia’s.
Brief scores: Australia 359 for 2 in 50 overs (Adam Gilchrist 57, Ricky Ponting 140 not out, Damien Martyn 88 not out) bt India 234 in 39.2 overs (Virender Sehwag 82, Rahul Dravid 47; Glenn McGrath 3-52) — by 125 runs
11: Mahela Jayawardene: 115 (109 balls)* vs New Zealand at Jamaica in 2007 World Cup semi-final
World Cup semi-final is always a high pressure game and all Sri Lanka needed was a good score on the board. The start was decent and captain Mahela Jayawardene came in when the score was 67 for two in the 14th over. It wasn’t a smooth start for him against a bowling attack that had the fierce Shane Bond and the wily Daniel Vettori. He managed only 17 from his 47 balls but he hung in there and later crafted a classical innings.
He opened up later and smashed 75 from his last 35 balls, scoring an unbeaten 115 as Sri Lanka reached to a safe total of 289 from their 50 overs. They had enough on the board and marched to the final, which they lost to Australia in a rain-effected tie.
Brief scores: Sri Lanka 289 for 5 in 50 overs (Upul Tharanga 73, Mahela Jayawardene 115 not out) bt New Zealand 208 in 41.4 overs (P Fulton 46; Muttiah Muralitharan 4-31) —by 81 runs
12: Andrew Strauss: 158 (145 balls) vs India at Bangalore in 2011 World Cup, Group Stage
The track at Bangalore was a belter but still nine out of ten times, 338 was a winning total. However England captain Andrew Strauss ensured that wasn’t the case. In a display of fantastic batsmanship, Strauss had almost pulled off the match for England against a baffled Indian bowling attack. It was a crafty knock from the England opener, who added 170 runs with Ian Bell for the third wicket, as he constantly looked for the shorter boundaries and consistently dispatched the bowling to those areas.
Strauss belted 18 boundaries and a six en route to his 158. Thanks to a brilliant spell from Zaheer Khan, India were back in the game. When Strauss got out England required 58 from 43 balls. A dramatic collapse almost saw England losing the game; however the thriller of a match ended in a tie. Such an innings didn’t deserve to be on the losing side.
Brief scores: India 338 in 49.5 overs (Sachin Tendulkar 120, Gautam Gambhir 51, Yuvraj Singh 58; Tim Bresnan 5-48) tied with England 338 for 8 in 50 overs (Andrew Strauss 158, Ian Bell 69; Zaheer Khan 3-64)
13: Ricky Ponting: 104 (118 balls)* vs India at Ahmedabad in 2011 World Cup, quarter-final
Eight years after the World Cup final in 2003, India and Australia once again met in an important clash, this time a quarter-final.
Australia batting first were denied easy runs by Indian bowlers, who also picked up wickets at regular intervals. It was once again up to the Australian captain Ricky Ponting to stand-up, and repeat the show of the Wanderers, that he performed eight years prior.
However this was an uncharacteristic Ponting knock. With wickets tumbling at the other end, the Australian skipper showed grit and fought it, playing a lone hand and helping his side to a respectable total of 260 in 50 overs. In the end, it wasn’t enough as in a nerve-racking chase India triumphed. Thanks to another Yuvraj classic. Had Ponting received better support from his team-mates, Australia could have added another crucial 20 runs. However, that wasn’t the case as the World Cup ended there for the defending champions and later India went on to lift the coveted trophy.
Brief scores: Australia 260 for 6 in 50 overs (Brad Haddin 53, Ricky Ponting 104, David Hussey 38 not out) lost to India 261 for 5 in 47.4 overs (Sachin Tendulkar 53, Gautam Gambhir 50, Yuvraj Singh 57 not out, Suresh Raina 34 not out) — by four wickets
14: AB de Villiers: 166 (66 balls)* vs West Indies at Sydney in 2015 World Cup, Group Stage
With this knock, South African skipper AB de Villiers ensured that he holds the record of the fastest fifty, hundred and 150 in ODI cricket. Having faced a shocking defeat in the hands of India in Melbourne five days earlier, the Proteas were in a ruthless mood when they faced West Indies.
In the previous month, de Villiers against the same opponents scored the fastest ODI hundred from 31 balls and this time he reached his hundred from 52 balls, but took another 12 to reach the next fifty. It was simply carnage at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) as the last three overs of South African innings saw 78 runs being scored!
In the end it was an easy win by 257 runs for South Africa and their captain de Villiers played one of the greatest knocks in cricket history – an innings that contained 17 fours and eight sixes.
Brief scores: South Africa 408 for 5 in 50 overs (Hashim Amla 65, Faf du Plessis 62, Rilee Rossouw 61, AB de Villiers 162 not out; Chris Gayle 2-21) bt West Indies 151 in 33.1 overs (Jason Holder 56; Kyle Abbott 2-37, Morne Morkel 2-23; Imran Tahir 5-45) — by 257 runs
15: Brendan Taylor: 121 (91 balls) vs Ireland at Hobart in 2015 World Cup, Group Stage
Zimbabwe were putting up some really good performances but weren’t able to win games and adding to this was the big blow they received when their regular skipper Elton Chigambura picked up an injury ahead of the crucial clash against Ireland.
Brendan Taylor, the stand-in skipper led the side and batting first Ireland had put up a massive 331. Chasing it, Zimbabwe were struggling at 74 for four when Taylor led an amazing recovery. He consistently found the ropes and often cleared them. He brought up his hundred from just 79 balls. He eventually fell for 121 from just 91 balls and couldn’t help Zimbabwe cross the line.They came agonisingly close and fell short of Ireland’s total by just four runs.
Brief scores: Ireland 331 for 8 in 50 overs (Ed Joyce 112, Andy Balbirnie 97; Tendai Chatara 3-61, Sean Williams 3-72) bt Zimbabwe 326 in 49.3 overs (Brendan Taylor 121, Sean Williams 96; Alex Cusack 4-32) – by five runs
(Suvajit Mustafi consumes cricket for lunch, fiction for dinner and munches numerous other snacks throughout the day. Yes, a jack of several trades, all Suvajit dreamt of was being India’s World Cup winning skipper but ended up being a sports writer, author, screenwriter, director, copywriter, graphic designer, sports marketer, strategist, entrepreneur, philosopher and traveller. Donning so many hats, it’s cricket which gives him the ultimate high and where he finds solace. He can be followed at @RibsGully and rivu7)
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