cricketworldcup

1975 ( England)

England's hopes end with a tame semi-final defeat to Australia. In the final, Clive Lloyd hammers a quick-fire 102 to lead a vintage West Indies side to a 17-run win against the Aussies. The tournament was blessed with superb weather with not a minute of playing time lost to rain.

1979 (England)

A tournament dogged by rain (it took Sri Lanka three days to beat India) is best remembered for Viv Richards' brutal 138 not out in the final against England, as West Indies defended their title at Lord's. England collapsed from 183 for 2 to 194 all out. No surprise there then.

1983 (England)

One of the greatest World Cup innings, Kapil Dev's unbeaten 175 for India against Zimbabwe, is lost to posterity when the BBC go on a flash strike. The Beeb do manage to get the cameras rolling in time to see Kapil's India beat the West Indies in the final.

1987 (India)

England reach the final against Australia in Calcutta, only to chuck it away with victory within their grasp. Mike Gatting's ambitious reverse sweep ends in disaster when he is caught of the innocuous bowling of Allan Border.

1992 (Australia and New Zealand)

Imran Khan's majestic Pakistan team dispose of England to take the title, making it three out of three final defeats for our boys. Meanwhile, the introduction of vivid, coloured kits is the cue for a string of pyjama-based gags in the tabloids.

1996 (India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka)

Sri Lanka's aggressive pinch-hitting pays off as they beat the Aussies in an final. England all-rounder Neil Smith throws up whilst batting against the UAE. He blames it on a dodgy pizza, retires ill but still wins the man-of-the-match award.

1999 (England)

England are eliminated in the opening stages for the first time. Australia ride their luck against South Africa in a wonderful semi-final and humiliate Pakistan in the final.