The Cricket World Cup, held every four years, stands as the pinnacle of One Day International (ODI) cricket. Organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC), this global tournament involves preliminary qualification rounds culminating in a final championship. Recognized as a flagship event in international cricket, the Cricket World Cup garners immense global viewership, solidifying its place as a premier sporting spectacle.
1900: Cricket in the Olympics
Cricket made its sole appearance in the Summer Olympics in 1900 in Paris, with Great Britain defeating France for the gold medal.
1912: Triangular Tournament
A triangular Test cricket tournament, the first multilateral competition at the international level, was held in 1912, featuring England, Australia, and South Africa.
1912: Triangular Tournament
The first multilateral Test cricket tournament, known as the Triangular Tournament, was held in 1912 in England, featuring England, Australia, and South Africa.
1928: West Indies Test Status
West Indies attained Test cricket status in 1928, marking their entry into the elite group of Test-playing nations.
1930: New Zealand Gains Test Status
New Zealand achieved Test cricket status in 1930, expanding the global reach of Test cricket.
1932: India's Test Debut
India made their debut in Test cricket in 1932, signifying a significant moment in the sport's history.
1952: Pakistan Joins Test Cricket
Pakistan entered the realm of Test cricket in 1952, further diversifying the international Test cricket landscape.
1962: Midlands Knock-Out Cup
The Midlands Knock-Out Cup, a four-team knockout competition, marked the beginning of one-day cricket in England in 1962.
1963: Inaugural Gillette Cup
The Gillette Cup, a one-day cricket competition, was inaugurated in 1963, further popularizing the shorter format.
1969: National Sunday League
England established a national Sunday League dedicated to one-day cricket in 1969, solidifying the format's growing presence.
June 1975: First Cricket World Cup
The inaugural Cricket World Cup took place in June 1975 in England, marking a significant milestone in the sport's history.
1975: Inception of Cricket World Cup
The inaugural Cricket World Cup took place in 1975, marking the beginning of this prestigious tournament.
1975: West Indies' Inaugural Victory
The West Indies emerged victorious in the 1975 Cricket World Cup, defeating Australia in the final, with Roy Fredricks becoming the first batsman to be out hit-wicket in an ODI final.
1975: West Indies' Historic Back-to-Back Victories
The West Indies etched their names in cricketing history by becoming the first team to achieve consecutive Cricket World Cup titles, securing victories in both 1975 and 1979, a feat that solidified their early dominance in the tournament.
1975: First Cricket World Cup
England hosted the first Cricket World Cup in 1975, known as the Prudential Cup, marking a groundbreaking event in the sport.
1979: England's Run to the Final on Home Soil
In 1979, England, hosting the Cricket World Cup, delivered a strong performance, ultimately reaching the final, though they fell short of claiming the title.
1979: Introduction of Qualification Process
Starting with the second Cricket World Cup in 1979, a qualification process was introduced to determine some participating teams, supplementing the teams qualifying automatically. The ICC Trophy served as the first qualifying tournament.
1979: ICC Trophy Introduction
The ICC Trophy competition was introduced in 1979 to determine the qualification of non-Test playing teams for the World Cup. The West Indies also secured their second consecutive World Cup win, defeating England in the final.
1979: West Indies' Historic Back-to-Back Victories
The West Indies, in 1979, cemented their legacy as a dominant force in cricket by securing their second consecutive World Cup title, a feat that remains a testament to their exceptional skills during that era.
1987: Joint Hosting in Cricket World Cup
The 1987 Cricket World Cup marked the first instance of the tournament being jointly hosted by nations from the same geographical region, with South Asia taking the honor. This trend continued with similar arrangements in 1996 and 2011.
1987: World Cup Hosting Rotation
Starting in 1987, the Cricket World Cup transitioned to a shared hosting model among ICC members, moving away from England's sole hosting.
1987: Australia's Second Appearance in the World Cup Final
In 1987, Australia made their second appearance in the Cricket World Cup final, showcasing their consistent presence as a top contender in the tournament.
1992: Host Nation Australia's Early Exit in Cricket World Cup
Australia, hosting the Cricket World Cup in 1992, faced an unexpected early exit, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the tournament.
1992: 10-team Format in Cricket World Cup
The 1992 Cricket World Cup employed a 10-team format, a structure that would later be revisited in future editions of the tournament.
1992: Joint Hosting in Cricket World Cup
The 1992 Cricket World Cup in Australasia, hosted jointly by Australia and New Zealand, exemplified the practice of neighboring countries sharing hosting responsibilities.
1992: Expansion and Format Change in 1992 World Cup
The 1992 Cricket World Cup marked South Africa's return to international cricket after the end of the apartheid boycott. Nine teams participated, with a format change where each team played each other once in the group stage, and the top four teams advanced to the semi-finals.
1992: Innovations and South Africa's Return
The 1992 World Cup, hosted by Australia and New Zealand, brought significant changes, including colored clothing, day/night matches, and South Africa's return to international cricket. Pakistan emerged as the victors.
1996: Sri Lanka's Maiden Victory and Crowd Unrest
The 1996 World Cup was held in the Indian subcontinent, with Sri Lanka co-hosting some matches. Sri Lanka's victory over India in the semi-final was marred by crowd disturbances, leading to a default win. Sri Lanka went on to defeat Australia in the final for their first World Cup title.
1996: Joint Hosting in Cricket World Cup
The 1996 Cricket World Cup, jointly hosted by nations from South Asia, continued the trend of regional partnerships in hosting the tournament.
1996: Australia's Third Appearance in the World Cup Final
The 1996 Cricket World Cup marked Australia's third appearance in the final, further solidifying their reputation as a dominant force in the tournament.
1996: Further Expansion and Format Modification in 1996 World Cup
The 1996 Cricket World Cup expanded to include twelve teams divided into two groups of six. The top four teams from each group progressed to quarter-finals and semi-finals.
1996: Sri Lanka Makes History as First Host Nation to Win Cricket World Cup
In 1996, Sri Lanka, as co-host, etched their name in cricketing history by becoming the first nation to clinch the World Cup title on home soil.
May 1999: Start of Australia's unbeaten streak
Australia embarked on an incredible 35-match unbeaten streak in World Cup matches, commencing in May 1999, showcasing their dominance in the tournament.
1999: Asian Test Championship
After the 1912 Triangular Tournament, a multilateral Test tournament wasn't organized again until the Asian Test Championship in 1999.
1999: Australia's Era of Dominance Begins
Australia's journey towards becoming a cricketing powerhouse began with their 1999 World Cup victory, the first in a streak of three consecutive titles, marking the beginning of their era of dominance in the tournament.
1999: England's First-Round Exit as Host Nation
England, as the host nation in the 1999 Cricket World Cup, encountered disappointment with a first-round elimination, marking a setback in their pursuit of the title on home soil.
1999: 1999 Cricket World Cup
The 1999 Cricket World Cup was hosted by England, with matches also held in Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and the Netherlands. Twelve teams participated, and Australia emerged victorious after a thrilling tournament.
1999: Unique Format for 1999 and 2003 World Cups
The 1999 and 2003 Cricket World Cups featured a distinct format. Teams were divided into two pools, and the top three from each pool advanced to the Super 6 stage, carrying forward their points from matches against other qualifying teams. The top four teams from the Super 6 progressed to the semi-finals.
1999: Creation of the ICC Cricket World Cup Trophy
The ICC Cricket World Cup Trophy, the first permanent prize in the tournament's history, was designed and produced in London by Garrard & Co in 1999.
2003: Mixed Fortunes for Co-Hosts in 2003 Cricket World Cup
The 2003 Cricket World Cup witnessed varying degrees of success for co-hosting nations, with Zimbabwe achieving their best-ever result by reaching the Super Six, while South Africa faced disappointment with a first-round exit.
2003: Kenya's Semi-Final Run
The 2003 Cricket World Cup witnessed a remarkable performance from Kenya, a non-full-member team, as they reached the semi-finals.
2003: 14-Team Format Introduced in Cricket World Cup
The 2003 Cricket World Cup saw the introduction of a 14-team format, a structure that would be revisited in future tournaments.
2003: 2003 Cricket World Cup
South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Kenya hosted the 2003 Cricket World Cup, which saw the number of participating teams increase to fourteen. Kenya achieved a historic feat by reaching the semi-finals, marking the best-ever result by an associate nation. Australia continued their dominance, winning their third consecutive World Cup title.
2003: Continuation of Unique Format in 2003 World Cup
The 2003 Cricket World Cup retained the format used in the 1999 edition, with a Super 6 stage and points carrying forward from the group stage.
2003: Kenya's Historic World Cup Run
Kenya's performance in the 2003 Cricket World Cup was nothing short of remarkable, as they became the first non-Test playing nation to reach the semi-finals, showcasing their cricketing talent on the global stage.
2003: Australia's Unprecedented Hat-trick of World Cup Titles
Australia's dominance in the Cricket World Cup reached unprecedented heights in 2003 as they clinched their third consecutive title, a feat unmatched in the tournament's history.
2003: Joint Hosting in Cricket World Cup
Southern Africa took on the role of joint host for the 2003 Cricket World Cup, demonstrating the collaborative approach to hosting the tournament within a region.
2007: Australia Completes a Historic World Cup Three-Peat
Australia, in 2007, completed a remarkable hat-trick, securing their third consecutive Cricket World Cup title, solidifying their status as one of the greatest cricketing teams of all time.
2007: 16-Team, Super 8 Format in 2007 Cricket World Cup
The 2007 Cricket World Cup featured a 16-team format divided into four groups. The top two teams from each group advanced to the Super 8 round, where they played against teams from other groups, carrying forward points from their group stage encounters.
2007: 2007 Cricket World Cup
The West Indies hosted the 2007 Cricket World Cup, featuring sixteen teams. The tournament was marred by the tragic death of Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer, initially investigated as a murder but later attributed to heart failure. Australia extended their unprecedented winning streak to 29 matches, securing their third consecutive championship.
2007: Joint Hosting in Cricket World Cup
The West Indies, in 2007, showcased a unified front as they jointly hosted the Cricket World Cup, further emphasizing the practice of regional collaboration in hosting the event.
2009: Pakistan stripped of hosting rights
Pakistan was stripped of its hosting rights for the 2011 World Cup following a terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in 2009. The matches scheduled for Pakistan were redistributed to the other host countries.
March 2011: 2011 Cricket World Cup
The 2011 Cricket World Cup, hosted by India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, witnessed India's historic victory, becoming the first nation to win the tournament on home soil. The tournament featured fourteen teams and was notable for Australia's loss to Pakistan, ending their remarkable 35-match unbeaten streak in World Cup matches, which began in May 1999.
2011: Two Groups, Knockout Stage Format in 2011 and 2015 Cricket World Cups
The Cricket World Cups in 2011 and 2015 adopted a format featuring two groups of seven teams each, with the top four from each group progressing to a knockout stage comprising quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final.
2011: Record Viewership for the 2011 Cricket World Cup
The 2011 Cricket World Cup garnered immense global attention, reaching over 2.2 billion viewers across more than 200 countries, a testament to the growing popularity of One-Day International cricket.
2011: India Triumphs on Home Ground in Cricket World Cup
India achieved a historic victory in the 2011 Cricket World Cup, becoming the first team to win the tournament in a final held in their own country.
2011: Introduction of ICC World Cricket League
In 2011, the ICC World Cricket League replaced previous pre-qualifying systems, aiming to provide Associate and Affiliate ICC members with more opportunities to qualify for the World Cup. Additionally, the ICC Trophy was renamed the "ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Qualifier."
2011: Joint Hosting in Cricket World Cup
In 2011, the Cricket World Cup was once again jointly hosted by nations within South Asia, reflecting a pattern of regional collaboration in organizing the event.
2015: Australia's Fifth World Cup Title
Australia continued their winning ways in 2015, securing their fifth Cricket World Cup title, a testament to their enduring legacy in the sport.
2015: Australia Claims Victory on Home Soil in Cricket World Cup
Australia, in 2015, joined the ranks of nations that have secured Cricket World Cup victories on their home turf, further solidifying their dominance in the sport.
2015: Two Groups, Knockout Stage Format in 2011 and 2015 Cricket World Cups
Both the 2011 and 2015 editions of the Cricket World Cup implemented a format that involved two groups of seven teams, with the top four teams from each group advancing to a knockout phase consisting of quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final.
2015: Joint Hosting in Cricket World Cup
The 2015 Cricket World Cup saw Australasia, specifically Australia and New Zealand, come together again as joint hosts, highlighting a pattern of shared hosting arrangements.
2015: Lucrative Media and Sponsorship Deals for Cricket World Cup
The 2015 Cricket World Cup, along with its 2011 counterpart, attracted significant financial investment, with television rights exceeding US$1.1 billion and sponsorship deals reaching US$500 million, highlighting the tournament's commercial value.
2015: 2015 Cricket World Cup
The 2015 Cricket World Cup, jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand, featured fourteen teams. Ireland emerged as the most successful Associate nation, securing three victories. New Zealand reached their maiden World Cup final but fell short against Australia, who claimed their fifth title.
2015: Shift in Automatic Qualification Criteria
Until the 2015 Cricket World Cup, automatic qualification was largely determined by Full Membership of the ICC.
2019: 10-team Format Returns to Cricket World Cup
The 2019 Cricket World Cup saw a return to the 10-team format, with all teams playing each other once in a round-robin stage before the semifinals.
2019: 2019 Cricket World Cup
The 2019 Cricket World Cup, hosted by England and Wales, saw England clinch their first-ever title in a thrilling final against New Zealand. The tournament featured ten teams and concluded with a super over, highlighting the intense competition.
2019: Close Final Between England and New Zealand
The 2019 Cricket World Cup witnessed a thrilling final between England and New Zealand, with a close margin of victory.
2019: England's Home-Ground Triumph in Cricket World Cup
England, in 2019, achieved a long-awaited victory, securing the Cricket World Cup title on their home ground, a feat that had eluded them in previous attempts.
2019: Conclusion of automatic qualification dominance
The 2019 Cricket World Cup marked the end of an era where the majority of participating teams qualified automatically, primarily based on Full Membership or ranking position in the ICC ODI Championship.
2019: End of Era for Established Qualification System
The 2019 Cricket World Cup marked the conclusion of a period where automatic qualifiers were joined by teams advancing through a qualification process, including the ICC Trophy and pre-qualifying tournaments.
2019: Massive Global Audience for 2019 Cricket World Cup
The 2019 Cricket World Cup captivated a vast audience, with the ICC reporting 1.6 billion viewers tuning in on television and a staggering 4.6 billion views for digital video content. The group stage match between India and Pakistan emerged as the most watched, drawing over 300 million live viewers.
2019: New Zealand's Second Consecutive World Cup Final Appearance
New Zealand's consistent performance in the Cricket World Cup continued in 2019, as they reached their second consecutive final, solidifying their position as a strong contender on the global stage.
November 2021: ICC Announces Hosts for 2024-2031 Events
In November 2021, the International Cricket Council (ICC) revealed the host nations for various tournaments scheduled between 2024 and 2031, including the coveted 50-over World Cup, T20 World Cup, and Champions Trophy, all decided through a competitive bidding process.
2023: Australia Wins World Cup
The 2023 Cricket World Cup saw ten teams compete, with Australia emerging as the champions.
2023: 10-team Format Continues in Cricket World Cup
The 2023 Cricket World Cup retained the 10-team format introduced in 2019, featuring a round-robin stage followed by semifinals.
2023: 2023 Cricket World Cup
India hosted the 2023 Cricket World Cup, which saw Australia claim their sixth title. The tournament featured ten teams and saw the return of The Netherlands after a 12-year absence. Afghanistan achieved their most successful World Cup performance, securing four wins in the group stage, including a victory over defending champions England.
2023: Australia Maintains a Strong World Cup Presence
In 2023, Australia once again demonstrated their consistency in the Cricket World Cup, making their eighth appearance in the final, highlighting their enduring status as a top cricketing nation.
2023: New Qualification System for Cricket World Cup
From the 2023 Cricket World Cup onwards, only the host nation(s) gain automatic qualification. All other countries participate in a league system with promotion and relegation between divisions, determining qualification for subsequent World Cup cycles.
2023: Performance Summary of Teams in Cricket World Cups
As of the conclusion of the 2023 Cricket World Cup, a comprehensive table has been compiled to provide an overview of the performance of teams throughout the tournament's history. This table ranks teams based on their best results, number of appearances, total wins, total games played, and alphabetical order.
2024: Hosts for 2024-2031 ICC Events Announced
The ICC's announcement in November 2021 unveiled the host nations for major cricketing events from 2024 to 2031, including the 2024 editions of tournaments like the World Cup, T20 World Cup, and Champions Trophy.
2027: Joint World Cup Hosting
The 2027 Cricket World Cup is scheduled to be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
2027: World Cup Format Change
The Cricket World Cup is set to undergo a format change in 2027, expanding to accommodate 14 teams in the final competition.
2027: 14-Team Format Set for Future Cricket World Cups
The Cricket World Cups in 2027 and 2031 are slated to feature 14 teams, harking back to the format employed in the 2003 edition.
2031: 14-Team Format Set for Future Cricket World Cups
Continuing the expansion, the 2031 Cricket World Cup will maintain the 14-team format, mirroring the structure used in 2003.
2031: Hosts for 2024-2031 ICC Events Announced
The ICC, in November 2021, revealed the host nations for a range of cricket tournaments spanning from 2024 to 2031, encompassing events like the World Cup, T20 World Cup, and Champions Trophy, with the 2031 editions included in the announcement.