Cricket: In arguably the greatest World Cup innings ever, Steve Waugh starred against South Africa to steer Australia to a famous victory.
Clutch Waugh produces knock for the ages | 02:22To commemorate the upcoming Cricket World Cup in India, Fox Cricket has taken a look back at the ten greatest performances by Australians in Men’s World Cups.
After peeling off a century in the tournament opener against Kenya, he cracked a classy 126 against hosts India, combining with captain Mark Taylor for a 103-run opening stand. He became the first men’s cricketer to score consecutive World Cup centuries. Hayden needed 18 deliveries to muster his first run, but it was all one-way traffic once the ball stopped swinging.
Hayden finished the 2007 tournament as the leading run-scorer with 659 runs at 73.22 and a strike rate of 101.07. No Australian has ever registered more runs in a World Cup campaign.8. Mitchell Starc vs New Zealand, 2015 World Cup group stageAfter the tourists were rolled for 151, New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum smacked a 23-ball fifty to put the Black Caps in a dominant position at Eden Park.
The young all-rounder, Australia’s last recognised batter, walked to the crease with the team reeling at 4-86 in the 16th over of its tournament opener against Pakistan. “It was important for him, but for us to make our mark on the tournament against a very good Pakistan team.” The left-armer hooped the ball in both directions, awarded four LBW dismissals in quick succession. He toppled each member of England’s top five, none of which reached double figures.Source: Supplied
Gilly’s final World Cup knock was overshadowed, literally and figuratively, but the Bridgetown lighting fiasco, where Australia won its third consecutive title in the dark. It was the highest individual score in a World Cup final until Alyssa Healy bettered the record in New Zealand last year.Gilchrist combined with Matthew Hayden for a 172-run opening partnership, of which his teammate contributed just 38.
Bichel didn’t concede a boundary throughout the ten-over spell. However, the Queenslander’s heroics were far from over.Source: News Corp Australia Five deliveries later, Kirsten also fell victim to Warne after missing a slog sweep. The leg-spinner was fired up, flailing his arm and bellowing with relief. His teammates mobbed him, partly in celebration, partly to restrain the frenzied cricketer.“It changed the momentum of the game,” Waugh continued.The match was suddenly back in the balance, ending in a dramatic tie. Warne finished with 4-29, named player of the match after Australia pulled off a final-over miracle to qualify for the final.
He made India’s world-class bowlers look amateurish, steering Australia towards what was at the time its highest team total in ODI history.“Because the game was so under control and we were scoring quickly, I wanted to make sure I was there at the end,” Ponting later recalled.