What is common among Shaun Pollock, Brian Lara, Rahul Dravid, Ian Botham and Andy Flower? Yes, they are all great cricketers. But there is one more thing. They all played many world cups, but failed to push their teams to the victory stand.
Sachin, Ganguly, Dravid and Srinath
India reached the final in 2003 and lost to Australia. That was the highest point in one-day cricket that India reached with Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble and Javagal Srinath.
Since three of them have retired and Dravid isn’t playing, only Sachin now has chance to be part of a world cup winning squad.
Crowe, Fleming
Martin Crowe-led New Zealand remained invincible in 1992 in their first eight matches. A resurgent Pakistan defeated them in the last league match and then threw them out in the semi-final at Christ Church. That was the best world cup performance by any New Zealand team in any world cup. They reached semi-final stage in other world cups as well but 1992 was their best. Stephen Fleming, who led his team in 27 world cup games, also failed to lift the world cup.
Cronje, Kirsten, Donald, Gibbs and Pollock
South Africa reached the semi-final stage in 1992 and lost to England because of an idiotic rule. In 1999, South Africa needed just one run in the semi-final with Klusener facing Damien Fleming. They lost again, this time because of a run-out that should never have happened. South Africa has never reached the world cup final, although it has had Hansie Cronje, Gary Kirsten, Allan Donlad, Herschelle Gibbs and Shaun Pollock. Let’s see if Jack Kallis, their only surviving great from the ‘90s team, does it for them this time.
Ambrose, Walsh and Lara
West Indies in the 1990s was never as strong as they had been in 1970s and early 1980s. But they were a formidable unit, nonetheless, with Brian Lara, Richie Richardson and Desmond Haynes in the bating line and Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh and Ian Bishop in the bowling. Ambrose, Walsh and Lara had long illustrious careers, but they failed to lead their team to the position they achieved in 1975 and 1979.
Waqar Younis and Saeed Anwar
These two players missed the world cup that Pakistan won. Those that they played Pakistan could never win. Saeed Anwar illuminated the world cups of 1996, 1999 and 2003 with his brilliant stroke play, but that proved insufficient. Waqar Younis was the main culprit in Pakistan’s defeat at the hands of India in 1996 quarter final as he went for dozens of runs in the concluding overs. He played just one match in 1999 and was the leader of the team that was thrown out of the 2003 competition in the first stage.
Ian Botham, Graham Gooch, Alec Stewart
All three served the English cricket for years. They helped their team win many series. Never a world cup, though. Ian Botham played 22 matches in world cups from 1979-1992, Graham Gooch 21 matches from 1979-1992 and Alec Stewart 25 matches from 1992-2003. But they were not destined to achieve the greatest victory in one-day cricket.
England played three world cup finals, but was beaten every time by a different opponent. West Indies overpowered them in 1979; Australia razed them in 1987 and Pakistan clinched the trophy in 1992.
Andy Flower and Heath Streak
They both represented Zimbabwe, but would have played international cricket even if they had lived in Australia. Such was their class. Zimbabwe used to lose, but they would always shine and give their team an international look. With them, Zimbabwe reached the super sixes stage in 1999. But that was the best they ever achieved. Their careers ended without Zimbabwe ever reaching even semi-final stage.
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