50 fascinating facts about World Cups - Part 3

The coin had to be tossed twice at the 2011 World Cup final. When the coin went up for the first time, match referee Jeff Crowe could not hear the call from Kumar Sangakkara. The coin came down as heads and Sangakkara reckoned he called the right side of the coin and was about to say that his side would bat first. However, MS Dhoni said that he heard a call of 'tails' from Sangakkara. Crowe then said that the coin would go up once more.

Tendulkar didn't want Chappell for 2007 World Cup

In his autobiography - Playing It My Way - Sachin Tendulkar revealed that he did not want Greg Chappell with the team for the 2007 World Cup. Several Indian players accused Chappell of creating a negative environment in the dressing room.

The revolution of ODI cricket

Many top cricketers turned pirate with the inception of the Kerry Packer series in 1977. Did you know that it was this series which paved way for the modernization of ODI cricket with coloured clothing and floodlit fixtures coming on later. Eventually, since 1992, teams began to the play the World Cup with coloured clothing and white cricket balls.

Inauspicious start to a World Cup

The 1996 World Cup began with a whimper as the opening ceremony in Calcutta suffered galling lapses. Saaed Jaffrey, who starred in the Oscar-winning Gandhi, got the names of several teams and sponsors wrong. To aggravate the situation, the laser show went bust.

Warne takes Waugh's advise and wins World Cup

It was believed that Shane Warne wanted to retire before the 1999 World Cup, but Steve Waugh's inspirational speech motivated Warne to keep going and achieve World Cup glory.

Cricket experiences 100mph for the first time

Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar bowled cricket's first recorded 100 mph delivery against England's Nick Knight in the 2003 World Cup.

It's just another World Cup final for Australia

Australian cricketers Ricky Ponting and Glenn McGrath have played most number of World Cup Finals (1996 - 2007).

When the rain-rule betrayed South Africa

South Africa needed 22 runs off 13 balls when the heavens opened up during their 1992 semifinal against England. When the players strode out to resume the match after the rain eased off, the revised target, courtesy the controversial rain-rule method, was said to be 22 needed off 7 balls. Moments later, the big screen showed 22 needed off 1 ball (the target was actually 21 off 1 ball), ending South Africa's hopes of making it to the final.

Sri Lankan Tamils protest against political oppression

During Sri Lanka's clash against the Aussies at the Oval in the 1975 World Cup, a group of Sri Lankan tamils invaded the field and lay down on the pitch, holding banners protesting against political oppression, before being cleared off the ground.

The first Mahela ODI ton in vain

Mahela Jayawardene essayed a terrific century in the 2011 World Cup final, lifting Sri Lanka to a challenging 274. However, Mahela was topped by MS Dhoni as it became the first World Cup ton to end in vain. It also turned out to be the first Mahela ODI ton in vain.

The coin goes up twice in a World Cup final