Major upset

As it turned out, that was not quite true. Australia, runners-up in 1975 to the West Indies, did not even qualify for the semi-finals after a disastrous league stage, where they lost both to England and Pakistan in the league stage.

Granted, Australia were not half the side they were in 1975, as the World Series Cricket (WSC) organised by Australian media baron Kerry Packer attracted a lot of the top names, who were thereafter slapped suspensions by the International Cricket Conference (ICC) and thereby were not available.

Nevertheless, Australia ran between the wickets like they had resumed from the 1975 final. That match saw five Aussie run-outs, and their next World Cup match, in 1979 against England, saw four batters being found short. From 111/3, Australia were reduced to 159/9 and that just wasn’t enough.

The biggest shock however came against Pakistan. The Pakistanis, boasting Sadiq Mohammed, Majid Khan, Zaheer Abbas, Javed Miandad and skipper Asif Iqbal were formidable and scored 286/7. Then Majid chipped in with three wickets as well as Sikander Bakht and Imran Khan were on point as Australia were dismissed for 197, losing by 89 runs and exiting the World Cup.

West Indies unstoppable

The West Indians were fantastic. No side was good enough to stop them and, in any case, they were in the relatively easier group.

India had no answer to the giant fast-bowling quintet of Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, Joel Garner, Colin Croft and Collis King and were dismissed for 190, which also was thanks to a patient 75 from Gundappa Viswanath.

Then Gordon Greenidge sailed to an unbeaten century and between him, Desmond Haynes and Richards, the job was easy.

The West Indies-Sri Lanka match was washed out and then the Caribbeans beat New Zealand to ensure a semi-final berth.

The last four saw Greenidge, Haynes, Richards, Lloyd and King in fine nick and 293/6 was too much for Pakistan, despite some valiant resistance from Majid Khan and Zaheer Abbas. Ironically, Vivian Richards’ innocuous off-spin was as lethal as the fearsome fast bowlers.

England duly made the final against New Zealand and the hosts met the West Indies at Lord’s on June 23.

Chris Old and Mike Hendrick had West Indies in trouble and they were 99/4 before Richards and King, the original pinch-hitter, carved together a 139-run fifth-wicket stand.

Richards was his imperious self, with 138 not out off 157 deliveries while King blasted 86 off 66 balls with 10 boundaries and three sixes. A total of 286/9 was very challenging indeed.

A painstakingly slow opening stand between Mike Brearley and Geoffrey Boycott ensured England were never really in the race and Garner was unstoppable. His 5/38 off 11 overs and contributions by Croft and Holding ensured the West Indies their second successive World Cup.

India’s horror run

India had a World Cup to forget. Not only they lost to the West Indies and New Zealand, they also conceded points to Sri Lanka, still an associate nation, and were sent packing rather unceremoniously.

After the West Indies defeat, India went down to New Zealand. Batting first, they managed just 182 runs. Sunil Gavaskar scored 55 off 144 deliveries and barring Brijesh Patel in the middle-order and a bit of long handle by Kapil Dev and Karsan Ghavri lower down, there was nothing of note.

John Wright and Bruce Edgar added exactly 100 for the New Zealand opening stand and that effectively was that.

But the worst came five days later.

Sunil Wettimuny, Roy Dias and Duleep Mendis punished the Indian bowling as the islanders scored 238/5 off 60 overs and then the Indian batting, boasting Gavaskar, Anshuman Gaekwad, Dilip Vengsarkar, Viswanath and Brijesh Patel just never stuck around long enough and a lower-order collapse ensured that India had conceded points to the minnows.

India ended with zero points, below Sri Lanka’s one (no-result with West Indies).

This was hardly the backdrop that India needed, and no wonder they were not really taken seriously in the subsequent World Cup in 1983. But then, that is another story.

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The weather wasn’t as shiny as it had been four years earlier – the fixture been eventual winners West Indies and Sri Lanka at The Oval was washed out before a ball could be bowled and England vs Canada played out across two days at Old Trafford – but the Prudential Cup was a success from June 9 to June 23.

West Indies arrived in England as favourites to retain their title and they duly did, having decided shortly before the tournament to include all those contracted to Kerry Packer’s World Series Cricket. Pakistan opted to do the same but Australia didn’t, including a series of virtually unknown players, and paid the price.

West Indies were away from the start, topping their group with two wins and the no-result against Sri Lanka, who upset India by 47 runs at Old Trafford. South Africa were yet again ignored for the showpiece event, owing to apartheid, and so to make up the numbers a separate tournament, called the ICC Trophy, was held and from it emerged two minor teams, Sri Lanka and Canada.

India floundered for the second World Cup running, while New Zealand’s band of bits-and-pieces players carried them into the semi-finals. England won all their league matches, including a thriller at Headingley, and Pakistan also qualified. Half-centuries to Mike Brearley and Graham Gooch outdid New Zealand at Old Trafford, though just by nine runs, while at The Oval West Indies overcame a bout of jitters, thanks to some canny bowling from Viv Richards, to enter their second final.

(REWIND: Canada shot out for 45 in 1979 World Cup)

West Indies defeated hosts England by 92 runs in the final at Lord’s on June 23. While Clive Lloyd had smashed the title-winning century four years earlier at the same venue, it was Richards who emulated his captain in 1979, smashing 11 boundaries and three sixes on his way to an unbeaten 138 off 157 balls.

Starring alongside Richards was Collis King, who slammed 86 from 66 balls in an assault remembered till date for his ferocity. Chasing a mammoth 287, England’s openers Brearley and Geoff Boycott used up more than half their overs in compiling a 129-run stand and left too much for the rest of the batting line-up. Joel Garner was at his menacing best, mixing vicious yorkers with short stuff, and collected 5/36 as England slid from 183/2 to 194 all out.

For their success, West Indies received the Prudential Cup and £10,000; England, runners-up, £4,000. Richards pocketed the Man-of-the-Match award and £300. Prize money amounted to £25,900.

As they had in 1975, the Prudential Assurance Company put in the money, except this time two and a half times as much. Gate receipts came to £359,700, almost double the £188,000 for the inaugural competition and the surplus of £350,000 was shared between the full and associate members of the International Cricket Conference.

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This photograph above shows legendary West Indies batsman Viv Richards receiving the man of the match award from Ronald Owen, Chairman of Prudential Assurance for his blistering knock of 138 runs off 157 balls. Richards’s fantastic innings in the 1979 final helped West Indies team to set a total of 287 runs in 60 overs. Earlier, England had won the toss and opted to field.

West Indies got a bad start when they were 99 for four. However, Richards and Collins King who scored 86 valuable runs consolidated the West Indies innings as the 139 runs partnership gave them a respectable score to defend.

England started their chase in a cautious manner, but lost their way as pacer Joel Garner demolished the team by picking five for 38 in his 11 overs. Mike Brearley and Geoff Boycott scored a good 64 and 57 runs respectively but they were scoring at a slow rate. England were 183 for two at one stage and lost eight wickets for 11 runs as the bundled out for 194 runs to lose the final.

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In what was another empathic win, Viv Richard’s knock of unbeaten 138, followed by Joel Garner’s devastating bowling spell proved to be too hot for the English.

This photograph above shows the West Indies dressing room after their victory over England in the 1979 World Cup Final at Lord’s. Here, the golden moments are shared when man-of-the-match Richards signs a bat for England opener Geoffrey Boycott as Ian Botham looks on. Botham and Richards remain the best of friends even today and the former’s reaction completely sums up the mood.

In the finals, England winning the toss at Lord’s opted to field first and West Indies piled up 286 runs in 60 overs. While Richards anchored the innings beautifully, Collis King blazed away to a quick 86. England started off cautiously but were soon blown away by Garner, who finished with five for 38 in his 11 overs.

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Richards could dismantle any bowling attack in the world but in the final of the World Cup in 1979, the Master decided to take a backseat and build the innings, while Collis King taking charge and dominating.

In the above picture, we see Richards playing a shot towards the square-leg. It was a subdued and patient innings by Richards’ standards and after the end of 60 overs, West Indies were 286, and Richards unbeaten on 138 from 157 balls, having scored at a strike rate of almost 88 (and it was still 1970s!).

However the knock was delicate by no means and he ensured the crowd had enough to cheer about. Immediately after his hundred, he hit one over Mike Hendrik’s head. Hendrik, who had been one of the best bowlers in the tournament, was flicked by Richards for an iconic six off the last ball of the innings.

Such phenomenal player was Richards that he could play at will, and here he had done enough to help West Indies win the World Cup for the second time and in succession. For his marathon knock, he was adjudged the man-of-the-match.

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