Steely Steve and the rise of a new empire

After 16 years, the World Cup returned to the shores where it had first taken root. But this time around, the sprawling fields of England extended to Ireland and Scotland, and even to Holland, where one match was played.

Many questioned the timing of the tournament — coming about just over three years after the previous one — but the organisers explained that they had chosen 1999 instead of 2000 in an attempt to balance out the four-year cycle that had been disturbed when the 1987 World Cup had added four months more and the 1992 edition another five.

But the more plausible reason of breaking the four-year cycle seemed to be that the hosts were afraid of the Y2K syndrome. Back then, the year leading to the end of the millennium had carried warnings that the entire system would crash for years as computers would read the year 2000 as 1900! The English, it seemed, desperately wanted to avoid “Millennium stopped play.”

The format was changed yet again, with another round of matches introduced between the group games and the semi-finals. This stage was called the Super Six, which would be played by the top three teams of each of the two groups, with each qualifying team playing the three qualifiers from the other group. What came to haunt the organisers was the incentive given to the teams — if the teams they beat in the group stage also qualified, the winning team would carry forth the two points.

In the old enemy’s backyard, Australia lift the cup for a second time

In the main event, for example, the two teams that Pakistan beat — Australia and New Zealand — also qualified, thus allowing Pakistan to carry forward four points into the Super Six. This meant that Pakistan only had to win one game to make it to the semi-finals. Even that would not have been an eyesore except that Zimbabwe produced similar results in the other group, and also had to win just one game. Zimbabwe, comprising the Flower — Andy and Grant — brothers, Eddo Brandes and the indomitable all rounder Ian Johnson, were the woodenspooners in the league of Test playing nations and the freak wins threatened to oust at least one of the top names from the last four. In the event, though, they lost all their three games and the semi-finals saw the consistently best teams slug it out.

Pakistan and Australia had come into the tournament as favourites and clearly consisted of the most talented players, both young and legendary. The Pakistanis were led once again by Wasim Akram, who less than a year earlier had wrested back the captaincy. Under him was a heady bowling attack: there was the fiery wild stallion Shoaib Akhtar already bowling at supersonic speed; then came his swing lieutenants, Azhar Mahmood and Abdul Razzaq, who were sound with the bat too; and in spin, there was the magical, mesmerising Saqlain Mushtaq. Such was the potency of the Pakistani attack that Waqar Younis could not get a proper game.

In batting, Pakistan principally had Saeed Anwar and Inzamam-ul-Haq, and then the all-rounders among whom was the lion-hearted and effervescent wicketkeeper Moin Khan. It was to prove a lethal combination until they collapsed inexplicably in the final. Other than that, they lost inexplicably to Bangladesh as shouts of match fixing echoed around the world. That the result was to have no effect on Pakistan’s standing was worse for the defence.

Despite discussions around the format of the cup, the cricket was intriguing and exciting. The game had grown up since 1983 and even English conditions now offered tonnes more runs due to the rules of play and of course more batting-friendly pitches.

Possibly the three most exciting games of the tournament all involved Australia, a team who epitomised true grit like no other and none more so than by their skipper Steve Waugh, who led a squad comprising of some precocious talent in the shape of Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, and the Waugh brothers.

The first of them was at Headingley where a combination of heroics and comedy of errors and a pulsating last 10 overs that brought over 100 runs saw Pakistan post 275-8. Inzamam got 81 but Razzaq with 60 (batting at one down) and Moin smashing three sixes and two fours in 12 balls on way to 31 not out played key roles. When Australia batted, the Pakistanis bowled first with venom and then with courage, reducing Australia from 91-1 to 101-4 and then from 238-5 to 265 all out with Wasim taking 4-40.

Australia barely made it to the Super Six and then had to win all their games from there on to lift the Cup. It led them to two of the most dramatic finishes and both against South Africa, whose chokers tag was well and truly emblazoned on their chests after this tournament. In the Super Six game, Australia, facing an intimidating target of 271 were 48-3 when Steve Waugh walked in. Then began one of the most resolute and courageous individual fightbacks in World Cup history. It ended with Waugh on 120 not out and Australia into the semi-final with four balls left; there they were to meet South Africa once again.

Such matches left other teams unfairly in the lowlight. West Indies threatened for a bit but were pipped on the run rate at the group stage despite finishing on equal points with Australia and New Zealand. The exact scenario knocked out hosts England in the other group. India produced a gargantuan score of 373 against defending champions Sri Lanka who were so out of sorts in the tournament that they never made it to the next round. But despite making it to the Super Six, India couldn’t manage to finish ahead of even Zimbabwe.

So the semi-finals saw three of the 1992 semi-finalists and like then the home team missing and its Ashes partner coming through instead. In the first semi-final, Pakistan easily knocked out New Zealand by nine wickets despite the Kiwis posting a respectable 241. The out of form Wajahatullah Wasti for once struck a quick 84 and in partnership with the sparkling Saeed Anwar who finished unbeaten on 113 added 194 for the first wicket.

But it was the second semi-final that was to, arguably, command the title of the greatest match ever played in the World Cup. The game had everything in it — drama, suspense, thrill, twists and a heart-stopping finale. The South African bowlers had managed to restrict Australia to a mere 213 and started off briskly to post 48-0 in 12 overs. Then came that man Warne. In a magical moment, he bowled Herschelle Gibbs with a ball that flighted toward outside of leg stump where it pitched and clipped off stump. With similar mesmerising balls he took two more and South Africa were suddenly 61-4 as Cullinan was run out. Kallis and Rhodes took them to 145 but a stage was reached when nine were needed off six balls with the last man in. Near impossible against the Australians but Lance Klusener, the man who was already being named man-of-the-tournament for his fantastic finishes and consistent wicket taking, was on strike.

It proved devastating for Australia. Damien Fleming’s first two balls were dispatched brutally and with tracer speed to the cover boundary. The match was tied but if it remained that way Australia would go through by virtue of having beaten South Africa earlier. Next ball and Darren Lehmann missed the stumps as Allan Donald scampered back to his crease off a Klusener mishit. Fourth ball and a moment of madness occurred. Klusener hit and ran, Donald was ball watching. The throw still came to the bowler’s end and seizing the moment Fleming pushed it along the ground to the batting end with Donald paralysed in the middle having lost his bat, too. It was a moment that will live in infamy for the South Africans and in absolute ecstasy for the Australians.

Following a game like this, even the most exciting of finals would have been an anti climax. As it turned out it, was a complete downer for the millions of supporters of Pakistan in what was their second-ever final’s appearance.

On a brilliantly sunny day Pakistan went under the weather and from 68-2 collapsed to 132 all out in 39 overs with all sorts of innuendos attached to the way they got out. The Australians got home in a canter, certainly the deserved winners of the World Cup considering how they had fought themselves out of near elimination on more occasions than one. They were clearly the champions.

ICC World Cup — 1999

Teams — 12
Games — 42
Hosts — England
Venues — 21
Format — Top three in each group went into the Super Six carrying points and played the qualifying teams from the other group, creating a final all-played-all league table
Winners — Australia; Runners-up Pakistan Man of the Series — Lance Klusener

Match summaries

1st match — England v Sri Lanka at Lord’s, London on May 14 — England won by 8 wickets (with 3.1 overs remaining)
2nd match — India v South Africa at County Ground, Hove, Brighton on May 15 — South Africa won by 4 wickets (with 2.4 overs remaining)
3rd match — Kenya v Zimbabwe at County Ground, Taunton, Taunton on May 15 — Zimbabwe won by 5 wickets (with 9 overs remaining)
4th match — Australia v Scotland at County Ground, Worcester, Worcester on May 16 — Australia won by 6 wickets (with 5.1 overs remaining)
5th match — Pakistan v West Indies at County Ground, Bristol, Bristol on May 16 — Pakistan won by 27 runs
6th match — Bangladesh v New Zealand at County Ground, Chelmsford, Chelmsford on May 17 — New Zealand won by 6 wickets (with 17 overs remaining)
7th match — England v Kenya at St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury on May 18 — England won by 9 wickets (with 11 overs remaining)
8th match — India v Zimbabwe at Grace Road, Leicester on May 19 — Zimbabwe won by 3 runs
9th match — South Africa v Sri Lanka at County Ground, Northampton, Northampton on May 19 — South Africa won by 89 runs
10th match — Australia v New Zealand at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff on May 20 — New Zealand won by 5 wickets (with 4.4 overs remaining)
11th match — Pakistan v Scotland at Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street on May 20 — Pakistan won by 94 runs
12th match — Bangladesh v West Indies at Castle Avenue, Dublin on May 21 — West Indies won by 7 wickets (with 3.3 overs remaining)
13th match — England v South Africa at Kennington Oval, London on May 22 — South Africa won by 122 runs
14th match — Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe at County Ground, Worcester, Worcester on May 22 — Sri Lanka won by 4 wickets (with 4 overs remaining)
15th match — India v Kenya at County Ground, Bristol, Bristol on May 23 — India won by 94 runs
16th match — Australia v Pakistan at Headingley, Leeds on May 23 — Pakistan won by 10 runs
17th match — Scotland v Bangladesh at Grange Cricket Club, Edinburgh on May 24 — Bangladesh won by 22 runs
18th match — New Zealand v West Indies at County Ground, Southampton, Southampton on May 24 — West Indies won by 7 wickets (with 5.4 overs remaining)
19th match — England v Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge, Nottingham on May 25 — England won by 7 wickets (with 11.3 overs remaining)
20th match — Kenya v South Africa at VRA Cricket Ground, Amstelveen on May 26 — South Africa won by 7 wickets (with 9 overs remaining)
21st match — India v Sri Lanka at County Ground, Taunton, Taunton on May 26 — India won by 157 runs
22nd match — Australia v Bangladesh at Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street on May 27 — Australia won by 7 wickets (with 30.1 overs remaining)
23rd match — Scotland v West Indies at Grace Road, Leicester on May 27 — West Indies won by 8 wickets (with 39.5 overs remaining)
24th match — New Zealand v Pakistan at County Ground, Derby, Derbyshire on May 28 — Pakistan won by 62 runs
25th match — England v India at Edgbaston, Birmingham on May 29 and 30 — India won by 63 runs
26th match — South Africa v Zimbabwe at County Ground, Chelmsford, Chelmsford on May 29 — Zimbabwe won by 48 runs
27th match — Kenya v Sri Lanka at County Ground, Southampton, Southampton on May 30 — Sri Lanka won by 45 runs
28th match — Australia v West Indies at Old Trafford, Manchester on May 30 — Australia won by 6 wickets (with 9.2 overs remaining)
29th match — Bangladesh v Pakistan at County Ground, Northampton, Northampton on May 31 — Bangladesh won by 62 runs
30th match — Scotland v New Zealand at Grange Cricket Club, Edinburgh on May 31 — New Zealand won by 6 wickets (with 32.1 overs remaining)

Super Six

1st Super Six match — Australia v India at Kennington Oval, London on June 4 — Australia won by 77 runs
2nd Super Six match — Pakistan v South Africa at Trent Bridge, Nottingham on June 5 — South Africa won by 3 wickets (with 1 over remaining)
3rd Super Six match — New Zealand v Zimbabwe at Headingley, Leeds on June 6 and 7 — No result
4th Super Six match — India v Pakistan at Old Trafford, Manchester on June 8 — India won by 47 runs
5th Super Six match — Australia v Zimbabwe at Edgbaston, Birmingham on June 9 — Australia won by 44 runs
6th Super Six match — New Zealand v South Africa at Edgbaston, Birmingham on June 10 — South Africa won by 74 runs
7th Super Six match — Pakistan v Zimbabwe at Kennington Oval, London on June 11 — Pakistan won by 148 runs
8th Super Six match — India v New Zealand at Trent Bridge, Nottingham on June 12 — New Zealand won by 5 wickets (with 1.4 overs remaining)
9th Super Six match — Australia v South Africa at Headingley, Leeds on June 13 — Australia won by 5 wickets (with 2 balls remaining)
1st semi-final — New Zealand v Pakistan at Old Trafford, Manchester on June 16 — Pakistan won by 9 wickets (with 2.3 overs remaining)
2nd semi-final — South Africa v Australia at Edgbaston, Birmingham on June 17 — Match tied
The final — Pakistan v Australia at Lord’s, London on June 20 — Australia won by 8 wickets (with 29.5 overs remaining)