10 Fascinating Facts About the ICC Cricket World Cup 1999
The 1999 Cricket World Cup in England is remembered as one of the best tournaments ever played. From the greatest semi-final in history to Shane Warne's magic, here are ten fascinating facts about the 1999 World Cup.
1. The Greatest Semi-Final Ever
Australia vs South Africa at Edgbaston ended in a tie — the first in World Cup knockout history. Australia went through because they had beaten South Africa in the Super Six. The image of Allan Donald dropping his bat and being run out is one of cricket's most famous.
2. Shane Warne's Tournament
| Player | Wickets | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Shane Warne | 20 | 18.05 |
| Glenn McGrath | 18 | 20.83 |
| Lance Klusener | 17 | 20.58 |
Warne took 4 for 33 in the final and 4 for 29 in the semi-final, winning man of the match in both.
3. Lance Klusener's All-Round Show
Klusener scored 281 runs at a strike rate of 122 and took 17 wickets. He was named player of the tournament, though South Africa fell short.
4. Bangladesh Beat Pakistan
Bangladesh, playing their first World Cup, stunned Pakistan by 62 runs at Northampton — a result that helped them gain Test status the following year.
5. Zimbabwe's Golden Run
Zimbabwe reached the Super Six, beating India and South Africa along the way. Neil Johnson's all-round performances made him one of the tournament's stars.
6. The Final Was Over in a Flash
Australia bowled Pakistan out for 132 and chased it in 20.1 overs — the final lasted barely half a day, one of the shortest World Cup finals ever.
7. Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly's Record Stand
| Partnership | Runs | Match |
|---|---|---|
| Dravid & Ganguly | 318 | vs Sri Lanka, Taunton |
Their 318-run stand against Sri Lanka was then the highest ODI partnership ever.
8. Shoaib Akhtar's Arrival
The 1999 World Cup announced Shoaib Akhtar to the world. His raw pace troubled every batting line-up and he finished with 16 wickets.
9. Australia Lost Early, Won Late
Australia lost two of their first three group matches and were close to elimination before winning eight straight games to lift the trophy.
999 Cricket World Cup: The Start of Australia’s Three Consecutive Titles
Australia's 1999 win began an unbeaten World Cup run that lasted until 2011 — 34 matches without defeat across three tournaments.
Who won the 1999 Cricket World Cup?
Australia won the 1999 World Cup, beating Pakistan in the final at Lord's.
Who was the player of the tournament in 1999?
Lance Klusener of South Africa, for his 281 runs and 17 wickets.
What was the most famous match of the 1999 World Cup?
The tied semi-final between Australia and South Africa at Edgbaston.
Alice Mirza
Cricket is Alice Mirza’s passion, and he loves playing, watching, and discussing the game. The Cricket blog is my way of spreading my thoughts about the game. Previously, I ghost-wrote for a few websites. For me, cricket is more than just a game.