Cricket is a game that loves statistics, so with the World Cup starting today in Australia and New Zealand we thought we would share some on the tournament.
As most fans will know there will be 49 matches over 44 days between 14 teams played at 14 venues, seven in New Zealand and seven in Australia. It will be interesting to see if after 44 days everyone’s interest is still as high as at the start. The one criticism of this tournament in recent times has been that it has dragged on too long. The target is a billion expected viewers on television around the world, that too will be tested if it does start to drag.
The total prize money up for grabs is $11.5million with the winner taking home $4.3million. There is an additional $4.6million if a team goes through the tournament unbeaten. The losing finalist will go home with $2million. The losing semi finalists will each receive $692,000 while the losing quarter finalists receive $346,000. For winning your group and remember there are only two groups these teams will pick up $52,000 each. The six teams eliminated from the tournament at the group stage will receive $40,000 each. Should just cover the airfares and accommodation!
Looking at some of the history Sachin Tendulkar is the greatest run scorer in World Cup history having played 45 matches he accumulated 2,278 runs at an average of 56.9. Ricky Ponting is second with 1743 in 46 matches at an average of 45.8 and West Indian Brian Lara third with 1225 in 34 matches at an average of 42.2.
The highest individual score record goes to South African Gary Kirsten who scored 188 against the UAE in 1996.
The leading wicket taker in World Cup history is Australia’s Glenn McGrath with 71 wickets in 39 games. Second is Sri Lanka’s Muralitharan with 68 wickets in 40 matches, while Pakistan’s Wasim Akram is third with 55 wickets in 38 matches. It is worth noting that Glenn McGrath is the only player in the top five to have taken a five wicket haul twice.
Adam Gilchrist is the number one wicket-keeper with 52 dismissals in 31 matches 45 caught and seven stumped. Sangakarra is second with 46 dismissals 36 caught and 10 stumped. South African Mark Boucher comes in at four with 31 dismissals all caught, the only one in the top five with no stumpings.
There are some records in One Day International cricket that are unlikely to be broken during the world cup but should be looked out for: Rohit Sharma’s highest ODI score for India v Sri Lanka of 264 in 2014. In that innings he hit a record 33 fours.
South African Herschelle Gibbs hit six sixes of Dan van Bunge’s fourth over during the 2007 World Cup in St Kitts. All of the legitimate deliveries in the over went for six!
Chaminda Vaas took eight wickets for Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe in Colombo in 2001, the only eight wicket haul in ODI’s. HIs figures were 8 overs, 3 maidens 8 wickets for 19 runs.
The highest ODI score by a team is 443 by Sri Lanka against the Netherlands in Amstelveen in 2006. While the record stand in ODI history was between Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar against New Zealand in Hyderabad in 1999 when the put on 331 for the second wicket.
Will any of these records tumble in the next 44 days? It will be a display to remember if they are.
