In October 1987, the Australian one-day team started a month-long campaign in India to win their first ever World Cup.
It was a time when Australian cricket was going through a rebuilding period after the retirements of greats like Dennis Lillee, Greg Chappell and Rod Marsh. Several players were also serving bans for taking part in rebel tours to South Africa.
Expectations for the young team led by Allan Border weren’t high when they started the tournament. Looking back on the squad now, it was strong. But back then, players like Steve Waugh, David Boon, Dean Jones and Craig McDermott were still in the early stages of their careers.
This was an era where the West Indies dominated world cricket with batsmen like Viv Richards, Desmond Haynes and Richie Richardson. But the mighty Windies failed to even qualify for the semi-finals at the 1987 World Cup.
Australia surprised many by winning five of their six pool matches. That earned them a semi-final against a Pakistan team featuring greats like Imran Khan, Wasim Akram and Javed Miandad. But a five-wicket haul from McDermott in that match helped Australia to an 18-run win, setting up a showdown with England in the final.
England were captained by Mike Gatting and their batting line-up featured established players of the calibre of Graham Gooch and Allan Lamb. They had beaten hosts and defending champions India in their semi-final, a team that included Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev.
Australia won the toss and decided to bat first in the final. They scored 253, an acceptable score for the era. Boon top-scored with 75. Mike Veletta chipped in with a quick 45 to lift the run-rate in the last few overs.
England fell seven runs short in their chase, with Australia managing to pick up regular wickets throughout the innings to keep the run rate in check. Boon was named man-of-the-match.
The line-up that won that historic first ever World Cup for Australia (in batting order) was:
1. David Boon
2. Geoff Marsh
3. Dean Jones
4. Craig McDermott (promoted up the order as a pinch-hitter)
5. Allan Border (c)
6. Mike Veletta
7. Steve Waugh
8. Simon O’Donnell
9. Greg Dyer
10. Tim May
11. Bruce Reid
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.
The mammoth rise of Jake Fraser-McGurk - his enormous potential and the destructive shot-making that he possesses makes him a very tempting option.
Marcus Stoinis produced his first IPL century and it was a beauty. He went 6, 4, 4, 4 to finish off the Lucknow Super…
Xavier Bartlett has been permission to extend his cricketing education with a spell of T20s in England, playing in the Blast competition for Kent…
Three-Test spinner Matthew Kuhnemann has signed with Tasmania in a bid for red-ball game time ahead of Australia's tour of Sri Lanka next summer.…
Last week, you read about the Matt XI, a compilation of the best cricketers ever to represent the name Matt. And to be fair,…
The Aussie needed every centimetre of his height and reach to reel that one in!
